HELP SAVE A LIFE LIKE DEBBI'S

Deborah Margosian Chapman found herself unusually tired a few months ago. The normally energetic full-time physical therapist and mother of two grown children played tennis a couple of times a week and walked several miles a day.  She was shocked to discover that she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer.

The oncologist who spoke to her the evening of her diagnosis told her to pack a suitcase, because she was being admitted the following morning for up to six weeks of treatment.  She now needs a marrow to save her life.  Because Debbi is Armenian, she is much more likely to match with someone of Armenian heritage.  There are many people of all heritage types looking for a marrow donor.

Please swab your cheek and register with Be The Match.  You may save Debbi's life or someone like her.  

Click here to watch a short video that explains why your commitment is so important: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azGmJ7wQVko

The need for diversity is very important; of the 8 million members on the registry, only 10% are Hispanic, 7% are African American and 7% are Asian.

Tissue typing is an expensive process, so financial contributions of any size are greatly appreciated, and you can make a donation right here on this page.

Below is more information about joining the registry:

REGISTRY GUIDELINES:

To be a member of the registry, all you need is to:

-       Be between the ages of 18 and 60.

-       Be willing to donate to any patient in need.

-       Meet the basic health guidelines.

If you are unable to join, please consider becoming a volunteer to help recruit members, or make a financial contribution to help keep the registry growing.

Health Guidelines:

The conditions below would prevent you from joining the Be the Match Registry:

-       HIV or risk of HIV

-       Hepatitis or risk for Hepatitis

-       Most forms of heart disease or cancer

-       Chronic lung disease

-       Diabetes requiring insulin or diabetes-related health issues

-       Diseases that affect blood clotting or bleeding

-       Recent back surgery, or severe or ongoing back problems

-       Autoimmune/neurological disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis

-       Being an organ or marrow transplant recipient

-       Significant obesity

IF YOU MATCH A PATIENT:

Below are the steps to donation if you are identified as a match for someone.  

TWO WAYS TO DONATE

The patient’s doctor requests one of two types of donation, depending on what is best for the patient.

PBSC donation

Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation is the most common form of donating today.  This is a non-surgical, out-patient procedure.  For five days before donation, the donor receives daily injections of a drug that increases blood-forming cells in the bloodstream.  On the fifth day, the donor’s blood is removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells.  The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm.

Marrow donation

Marrow donation is a surgical, usually out-patient procedure.  While the donor us under anesthesia, the doctor uses needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone.  The donor’s marrow completely replaces itself within four to six weeks.  After donation, marrow donors will have slight soreness, but they are back to their usual routine in one to seven days.

Please feel free to contact our Be The Match representative, Tracy Julian at 800-676-4545 x 7050  or tjulian@nmdp.org if you have any questions. We hope you will take a few minutes to attend the drive and help save a life.

Checks can be written to:

 Be The Match Foundation

Please mail to:

Tracy Julian

NMDP

433 South Main Street

West Hartford, CT 06105

Thank you!

Be the one to save a life. Be The Match

What does Be The Match do?

Be The Match works to provide hope and deliver a second chance at life to patients by:

* Recruiting and supporting potential donors: To connect patients with donors, Be The Match manages the largest and most diverse donor registry — nearly 8 million marrow donors and nearly 100,000 cord blood units. Donors can turn to their Donor Advocacy Program for support throughout the donation process.

* Supporting patients: To help patients access treatment, Be The Match offers financial support and educational resources.

* Educating doctors: Referring physicians can turn to Be The Match for information about transplant advances, caring for transplant patients and the importance of timely referral for transplant.

* Advancing science: Be The Match's research programs have advanced the science of bone marrow and cord blood transplant, from better matching the right donor to the right patient for improving post-transplant treatment. 

Why you should help

Be The Match relies on our support to collect contributions from people like us so that it can further its mission.  Proceeds will help add more potential donors to the Be The Match Registry.  I hope you'll consider making a contribution today.  Together we can help save lives!