Join us in support of the National Marrow Donor Program!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM
Every year, 10,000 Americans are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, like leukemia, and their best or only hope of cure is with a transplant. About 70% of these patients DO NOT have a matching donor in their immediate family, meaning they depend on the NMDP “Be the Match Registry” to find an unrelated donor.
This is where we come in! Getting tested is EASY and PAINLESS, the inside of your cheek is swabbed so your tissue type can be determined. And that's it!
If you are a match for someone waiting for a transplant, the most common form of donating is through peripheral blood stem cells, which is a PAINLESS, NON-SURGICAL procedure! In a nutshell, for five days before the donation, the donor receives injections which will increase blood-forming cells. On the fifth day, the donor’s blood is removed through an IV in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is then placed back into the donor through a second IV in the other arm. This procedure takes about 4 hours and is done at a specialized hospital.
Just like a blood drive, some health conditions prevent volunteers from donating: HIV, AIDS or TB; asthma that requires regular use of oral medications; autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, etc); recent back surgery or severe or on-going back problems; cronic lung disease, cancer or diabetes requiring insulin; diseases that affect blood clotting of bleeding; being a past recipient of an organ transplant; current sleep apnea; heart disease or past heart attack; hepatitis or chronic kidney disease.
None of the above-mentioned conditions apply to you? Are you between the ages of 18-60?
Join us in growing the registry. You can save a life!
Questions? Call 856.251.0990 x103.
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