But if possible, here's more information to make you want to understand the emergency of this situation. Every week, I come by several news items where some local (to bay area) patients are waiting for a marrow match. According to the National Marrow Donor registry numbers, there is a severe shortage of Asian, African American and mixed ethnic donors registered.
As you may know finding a bone marrow match literally makes a difference between living and dying to the patient. There is likely, no other charitable action you can do with a greater, direct and potentially immediate impact to a person in need. Additionally the registration process is non invasive and takes only 10 minutes. The donation process too, is easy, safe, cost free to the donor and an outpatient procedure.
Please see attached videos - also posted on my blog page (right hand side, scroll down) for more details on the process of registering and what happens next, if you do turn out to match a patient.
Today I heard from someone who's family member is in need. My sincere wish is that no other family goes through what our family went through in those trying times. And no one else need ever lose a family member to this. Make a miracle happen this Christmas. Please register, where ever you maybe and whichever racial ethnicity you belong to, as long as you meet their requirements for health.
Asian donors please start at http://www.aadp.org/pages/main.php?pageid=16&pagecategory=1
Other ethnicities please visit http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin
My work on this will never end. I keep trying to get higher numbers of people to come register at the drives I host. In fact I am hosting one tomorrow in my near neighborhood.
But the most important thing to remember is, that we get people to register through any channel possible. Here's how you can help:
- Check the links above, and find a way to register, wherever you may be. Every person registered is a potential life saved.
- Spread the word, be a champion for this cause and help get more people registered.
Happy Holidays!
Gigi A.K.A Gitanjali
Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.
