i AM A DISPATCHER IN SARASOTA, FL. MY BROTHER IS A FIREFIGHTER IN MICHIGAN. A YEAR AGO HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA. HE IS NOW IN NEED OF A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT. I RECENTLY HELD A BONE MARROW DRIVE IN MY AREA WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL BONE MARROW REGISTRY. THE REGISTRY HAS SPECIFIC FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE COST OF FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO GET TESTED AND ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTRY. TYPICALLY THE COST FOR TESTING IS BETWEEN $50-$90. AS EXPECTED, THE FIREFIGHTERS SHOWED UP BY THE TRUCKLOADS IN MY COUNTY TO HELP A BROTHER FIREFIGHTER!! IT WAS AMAZING!! PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT IN YOUR OWN AREA, OR CONTACT THE NATIONAL BONE MARROW REGISTRY AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO AND GET TESTED AND ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTRY. ITS FREE, ITS PAINLESS (JUST A CHEEK SWAB!) AND IT MAY HELP SAVE LIVES, NOT JUST MY BROTHER, BUT MANY OTHERS IN NEED OF THIS LIFESAVING TRANSPLANT!!
Thanks Dan! Im sorry about your friend. Thank you for your prayers! :) I appreciate it!
Be safe out there and you keep up the good work as well!!!
Julie
I;m already in the national registry. my town held a free bone marrow drive for one of my friends, he passed away a couple of months later when they found no match. good luck with your brother!
Kevin,
Contact www.marrow.org should give you a number to call in your area to find out where you can go to get registered. let them know you are a firefighter cuz its free for you.....and thanks!!!! :)
Already on the registry. I never have been directly affected by anyone whom has needed one, but I donate blood, and they asked me once if I wanted to be put on the marrow list
This is an awesome program! We have a firefighter who was determined to be a preliminary match. We now have the bone marrow donor people in our department twice a year for the public to sign up.
Permalink Reply by Amy on October 18, 2007 at 8:58pm
Dear Shu,
I am going to do everything I can to help your brother. Your family is in my prayers. I am going to put him on a prayer chain, too. I would love to get info on having a bone marrow drive in my area. If I am a match for him, I will be on a plane ASAP. God Bless you.