That's how many living angels came to Peachtree Ridge High School last Friday and joined the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
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| Libbi, Dave, Marina, Robert at the close of the drive |
May is a hectic month for high schools ~ AP exams, Final exams, Seniors Graduation, the spring musical, athletic competitions, and thousands of details of which I'm pleasantly ignorant.
And yet, Dr. Kevin Tashlein (our Principal) and the entire administration and faculty gave us a resounding, "Yes! Let's Do It!" Mr. Jon Weyher (the AP for Athletics, Health/PE, Cafeteria, & Clinic) ensured we had use of a gym and opportunities to promote the event to students the week of the drive.
We worked with DKMS Delete Blood Cancer and our local donor recruiter, Kimberly, trained our incredible volunteers and made sure the event went smoothly.
Two Peeds Join the Registry
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| Alex & pals photo-bomb Robert's swab shot. |
"I hope I get the call some day so I can save someone's life," Katrina told me as she showed me her donor registry card.
Katrina studied the educational videos on bone marrow/ blood stem cell transplantation and worked hard to educate her peers on the importance and ease of joining the registry. She used Facebook to create an 'event' and invited hundreds of people.
Some of her teachers had her speak to their classes about the Bone Marrow Donor Registry and what's involved for donors.
The most common question kids asked her about donating is, "Does it hurt?"
When she describes the two methods of transplant and types of discomfort for each, she adds, "It's nothing compared to the pain my mom has lived for years."
DNA from Around the World Urgently Needed
Because ethnicity and heritage influence our HLA composition, race/ethnicity matters when it comes to finding a life saving donor match.It really is a numbers game. The more people who join the registry, the higher likelihood a leukemia patient will find a donor and survive.
I found varying statistics on websites that stated likelihood of finding a match based on race and ethnicity. Rather than claiming specific percentages here, it is clear that Caucasian (white) leukemia and lymphoma patients have SIGNIFICANTLY higher likelihood of finding a match from the donor registry than non-white patients.
People of African, Asian (including South Asian), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Alaska Native descent have far less chance of finding a matching donor.
Why is there a large difference?
One reason is because there are more HLA combinations in the genetic composition of descendants from continents other than Europe. Another reason is because there are far fewer people of color in the donor registry.
I've learned that there are several reasons why people don't join the registry. Most people lack awareness of the need. Many don't trust how 'the system' will treat and use their DNA. Recent research is illuminating.
Let's Be the Change
I figured our kids' school was a a great place to launch our education & donor registry efforts. Our student body is quite multi-cultural ~ check out my kids' Junior-Senior Prom group.
These healthy, bright 17 and 18 year olds are inspiring. Their world views are more expansive than their parents' and grand parents' generations. They restore my optimism in humanity's future (particularly in light of how we 'grown-ups' continue to poison and neglect our ecosystem).
I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and well-wishes during the drive.
Members of the Senior class, faculty, and administration dropped in to swab and join the registry. Some students who are not yet 18 helped to recruit those of age to come in and register.
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| Coach Hellman, the Varsity Boys Tennis Coach swabs in |
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| Gotta love these healthy, athletic stem cells! Thanks, guys! |
Friends, neighbors, parents of my friends' kids, and people I worked with in various community endeavors also came to the school to get swabbed. 
Some who are over the age of 55 dropped in to let me know they would donate if they could (none pictured here, unfortunately).
My friend Kimberly Cho encouraged many people from her church to come and join the registry.
Here are a few more photos from the day.
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| I am grateful to the friends who came out to run the drive. |
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| Sareena, Joella, and Lindsay are Great Volunteers & Potential Donors |
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| More healthy stem cells! |
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| Thank you for signing our board after joining the registry! |
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| Dr. Tashlein joins the registry! |
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| Ana, Aliya, & Lindsey registered & helped during the drive. |
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| I have amazingly caring & supportive friends ~ here with Sara, Madison, & Eva Orazi with Libbi Wengryn. |
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| I just LOVE all my kids. Here with Harrison, Christina, Kevin, and Alexander. |
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| Alexander & Katrina are all smiles at the end of a successful donor registry drive. |
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| Mr. Feldman, Director of the Theatre Department presents $425 to Delete Blood Cancer through donations raised by patrons after each show of Legally Blonde, the Musical. |
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| Kimberly Duncan of DKMS Delete Blood Cancer and I are all smiles after a successful drive. |
