Making the world a better place...

[moshker]

If you belong in one of these groups:
* Black or African American
* American Indian or Alaska Native
* Asian
* Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
* Hispanic or Latino
* Mixed heritage

Please consider joining the National Marrow Donor Program. If you can't afford the screening process ($75) I'd be glad to sponsor you

Comments

[moshker]

"Why are More People of Color Needed?
Because patients are most likely to find a compatible donor within their own racial and ethnic background, a diverse group of potential donors is needed. Only a small percentage of the 6 million volunteer donors who have joined the national Registry are people of color. Percentage of ethnic groups on the national Registry:

* African American, 8%
* Asian/Pacific Islander, 7%
* Hispanic, 7%
* Native American, 1%
* Multi-Racial, 2%
* Caucasian, 75%"
http://www.psbc.org/programs/marrow.htm

[ravenmanifesto]

What kind of health condition do you have to be in? I'm 'healthy' but have one outstanding 'trait' and have two blood disorders (anemia, hypoglycemia).

[moshker]

http://www.psbc.org/programs/marrow_guidelines.htm

They have a health questionnaire to establish eligibility. Their list above doesn't have anemia or hypoglycemia on it.

[uberbeth]

Anemia might not be specifically listed, but for any standard donation, you must have a HCL of 38 to donate.

I'm not anemic but have a hard time getting my iron up high enough to donate. I take iron supplements and eat red meat, liver, and spinach to boost it.

I do whole blood and platlets pretty often, and would like to get on the Marrow list, even though I'm pretty useless as 50/50 English/German.

[ravenmanifesto]

Thanks, the specific HCL number helps, I'll check it out when I go in for my next blood checkup. I think spinach is now technically out with regards to iron, a couple nutrition majors were talking to me about it a while ago--I think it had something to do with other high-concentration minerals inhibiting the iron absorbtion. How high is your iron supplement?

[nightshade1976]

i love how MS is listed with blood donors. marrow donors and basically any kind of donor list when it is not known how it comes to be. if my kids ever needed anything family members are the closest for matches but I wouldn't be allowed to do anything. It sucks, hopefully they will find out more so that MS patients can contribute more.

[moshker]

MS sucks. My heart goes out to you guys. Wish you lived closer, but you've got Jim and other lovelies down there so I suppose you're in good hands... but I think about you guys a lot.