MarrowTHON

I have a friend and coworker named Patty. Patty is awaiting a bone marrow transplant. She has been in Leukemia remission for about 6 years and on the transplant list for about 18 months. She recently received good news that she has a potential “9 out of 10” match for a transplant. While this is great, her doctor would rather wait for a “10 out of 10” before proceeding, because even with a “10 out of 10”, the success rate is around 50%.

I am writing to inform you of something that I myself was just recently educated on. We can help save lives like Patty’s. We’ve all been told that we can help by donating this and giving that, but I never knew just how easy and simple it was to accomplish this. We don’t have to be doctors, or research scientists or people collecting data in the rainforests somewhere.

Here’s how simple it is:

1. Sign up for the donor registry online
   
2. Relax on our couches in our comfortable home awaiting the donor kit
3. Swab your cheek with the kit
4. Send it back in the included pre-paided envelope
5. Continue our normal lives
   

Usually, there would be a step between steps 1 and 2, where you would have to pay around $50 to cover the costs of the processing of your DNA, and to weed out anyone who is not committed to helping in the long run. But that is not the case if you sign up soon. To make things even easier the National Marrow Donor Program is running a MarrowTHON during June 8 – 22, 2009. This means they waive the $50 donation fee, therefore everyone can sign up for free online!

Please take a couple of minutes to read this link. It answers all kinds of myths and rumors about becoming a donor:

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Myths_%26_Facts_about_Marrow_Don/index.html

Then once you’re comfortable, go to this link to sign up. The entire process will take about 15-20 minutes and you can do it from the comfort of your computer:

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now_Special/Marrowthon09/join_now_mt09.html

Here is a page outlining your potential commitment:

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Understanding_Your_Commitment/index.html?src=Factors

And this link outlines the entire process, from start to finish, if you were fortunate enough to be selected as a match and had the chance to save someone’s life:

http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/When_You_re_Asked_to_Donate_fo/Steps_of_Donation/index.html?src=Steps

Thank you for reading this far and giving me a chance to share something that I have found to be shockingly overlooked in our community. Personally, I was embarrassed to discover how easy this was and how little I had to do to potentially change someone’s life. I may not get to save Patty’s life, or anyone’s life for that matter, but I know now that I am at least giving myself the opportunity to do so.

I hope you consider taking this opportunity as well.