Getting tested can save a life
FOURWAYS - The Sunflower Fund is making an urgent call for bone marrow donors.
James Read who is 22 months old, is one of many young children in South Africa with leukaemia who can be cured, but requires a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
In baby James’ case he was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia which is incredibly rare and can only be cured with a transplant.
His parents, along with the Sunflower Fund, are appealing to individuals to undergo a quick and easy test to see it they are an eligible donor. Ingrid Krul of the Gauteng branch of the Sunflower Fund, located in Brightwater Commons shopping centre, said while a bone marrow stem cell transplant may sound like a painful procedure, it is a simple case of donating some of your blood.
“Blood is taken from your arm, the bone marrow stem cells are separated and collected from the donated blood, and the filtered blood is then returned into your body through the other arm,” Krul said.
She explained that many people may not not know that ethnic origin was important when matching donors and patients. The markers that are tested when searching for a match are genetically inherited and often unique to a particular race.
Krul said, quite simply there were not enough volunteers on the Bone Marrow Registry from ethnic groups such as African, Asian, Chinese, Jewish, Eastern European and mixed ethnic backgrounds. “By joining the registry you may be able to save the life of someone within your community who might otherwise be unable to find a match,” Krul said.
To find out if they might be able to give baby James a lifesaving bone marrow stem cell transplant, residents must first register with the Sunflower Fund on their website. Once registered, residents can take part in baby James’ donor drive which will take place at Grayston Preparatory in Sandton from 9am to 12 noon on 26 July.
The drive will not stop there because further testing will be taking place at Heronbridge College in Fourways on 3 August and Gracepoint Church in Glenferness on 10 August.
Details: 0800 12 10 82, www.sunflowerfund.org.za
