A former Emporian who received a stem-cell transplant several weeks ago sent an e-mail to friends to remind them of a bone marrow donor drive that will run from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Emporia Fitness, 2812 W. 12th Ave.
The drive seeks only potential donors willing to be put on a national registry of people willing to donate bone marrow or stem cells, if they are found to be compatible with the recipient.
The drive to enroll donors here has been organized by Greg Bachman, the former employer of Lisa Spillman Mesa of Broken Arrow, Okla., who has been undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and the stem-cell transplant in an effort to rid her of acute myelogenous leukemia.
Mesa, 32, is hospitalized at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, while she recovers from the transplant and its side effects.
“Don’t worry,” Mesa wrote. “Donating isn’t as bad as what you may think. Now most hospitals want stem cells instead of actual bond marrow, so this basically consists of inserting an IV and drawing the cells out of you and then your blood is put back in.”
Mesa's stem cells came through an international bone-marrow donor registry, after no compatible donors were found within the United States. Approximately 7 million donors are included on the list, and four from other countries were identified as potential donors for Mesa. Only one of them, however, was available to donate to Mesa.
The cost of to register as a donor normally is $52 per person. However, because of the drive, the National Marrow Donor Program will give a $27 discount, dropping the cost to $25 per person.
Bachman will pay that fee for any of his employees at Emporia Fitness and Emporia Physical Therapy, where Mesa formerly worked as a physical therapist.
He also will pay the fee for anyone who becomes a member of Emporia Fitness for at least one month.
The fee is necessary to cover costs involved with typing and processing the DNA samples, which are taken by wiping the registrant’s mouth with four separate swabs.
To be eligible for the registry, a donor must be:
• In general good health
• Between the ages of 18 through 60
• Willing to donate to any patient in need
According to information from NMDP, there is no medical cost involved when donors give their marrow or stem cells. Donors also are reimbursed for travel expenses.
Mesa’s aunt, former Emporian Cindy Baysinger, said recently that a 22-year-old man at Baylor is dying because a compatible transplant donor has not yet been found. A donor for another terminally ill patient, however, was found this month as a result of a donor registry drive.
Mesa will not benefit from the drive on Monday, but she hopes it will be a help to others who need the transplants. None of Mesa’s relatives were compatible donors, nor could a donor be found in the United States. She is eager to see how many donors are registered in Emporia on Monday.
“I know some of you I’m emailing this to have already signed up, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Mesa wrote on Wednesday. “You some day could be someone’s angel and save a life. Imagine what that would feel like. Amazing.”
truman (anonymous) says...
The gift of life can not be taken lightly. I hope everyone who hears about this will take the time to register.
March 2, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )