Some may say it was a political move that the Governor got swabbed for the Bone Marrow registry, but if it gets the word out, it is a political move I highly endorse.

Fifteen years ago, I worked in a hospital in the finance department where we helped patients and their families locate funding for Bone Marrow Transplants. Many of the patients were children. The biggest problem was not the actual procedure, but finding someone whose tissue would match. A majority of the patients never lived long enough for the procedure, because a match couldn’t be found.

It is an even more difficult task to find a match in “historically underrepresented” groups, such as the African American and Asian communities.

If you have time tomorrow, they’re doing a Marrow Donor Drive at the State Capitol from 8-4 PM in room 112. There are two local African American patients who are in dire need of a transplant. One is a grown woman, and one is a child of two. I am certain they are not the only patients in the area who could use your help.

Keep this in mind if you do go:

The general criteria for becoming a donor include factors such as general health status, weight, and age. Those who will generally not be able to serve as a stem cell donor include people with a history of severe heart problems, cancer, hepatitis, insulin dependent diabetes, or HIV. Cord blood units undergo a similar screening process. Donors are screened for conditions that would put them at too great a risk to donate as
well as for illnesses that could be harmful to the patient. [source]

Think about it. You may be the key to someone’s life.