A simple Q-tip swab of your cheek could
make all the difference to this family. Please help.
 |
| Diana Kingsley Lucio & daughter Kate |
Maryland Juice has a special plea for readers: Diana Kingsley Lucio, the daughter of a Silver Spring Democratic Precinct Captain, is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Please help to ensure that this 31-year-old mother has a chance to watch her 3-month-old daughter grow up. Her family is issuing an appeal for Marylanders of all stripes to come and submit a simple cheek swab to see if you're a potential match.
Sunday, March 4, 2012 // 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
St. John the Baptist Catholic Community // Lyon Center (in back of the church)
12319 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20904
Sponsored by Lisa, Roger and Melissa Kingsley (Mom, Dad and sister)
Coincidentally, I learned a whole lot about bone marrow transplants recently. On July 25, 2007, I was at a music festival where DKMS (a group that manages a bone marrow donor registry) was taking cheek-swab samples from concert-goers. According to their website, many patients on the bone marrow waiting list never find a match:
Q: Why is there a need for people to sign-up as bone marrow donors?
A: Thousands of patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases depend on finding matching donors who can save their life. Patients need donors who are a close genetic match. Even with a registry of millions, 6 out of 10 patients NEVER receive the lifesaving transplant they need. Donors of all ethnicities are needed if we are going to change this.
With the often narrow odds for bone marrow matches, I was shocked to receive an email on April 7, 2011 indicating that DKMS had matched my cheek swab to a patient on the waiting list. Needless to say, I ended up going through blood tests and surveys and prepared myself to become a marrow donor. The day never came, as a second donor materialized who was a better match than me. Even still, the experience was eye-opening. There is apparently a huge shortage of marrow donors from various racial and ethnic minorities -- and especially for multiracial individuals. Please help solve these problems by joining the bone marrow registry.
Collecting samples is an expensive process, so the family is also seeking contributions to help underwrite the cost. Please see an email alert from Democratic activist Emily Ackerman below.
Subject: Bone Marrow Drive March 4
One of our long-serving Democratic workers and precinct chairs in our district, Roger, has a daughter, Diana, who has a rare form of cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant. On March 4, from 9:30 to 1:30, at St. John the Baptist Church in Silver Spring, there will be a drive to help find her a match. To qualify you must be between the ages of 18 and 59 and in good health. If you can help, please do and if not, please spread the word.
The test is simple, just a q-tip swab of your mouth. For more info, click on http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/site/TR?px=1769599&fr_id=1450&pg=personal
Thanks everyone!
Emily Ackerman
Thanks for helping spread awareness, Emily!
No comments:
Post a Comment