More matching donors needed!
After being in the bone marrow registry since 1995, my mom MAY match to a cancer patient. She’s been on the list for nearly 15 years yet this is the first time she’s been called for additional screening. She only matched 5 out of 6 criteria, but since matches seem so rare, that’s enough to bring her in for more testing.
Minorities are even less likely to find a donor than whites. More than 40% of the patients waiting for donors are minorities compared to 20% of minority donors. Because bone marrow donations need to match a lot closer than most other organ donations, matches most likely need to be from someone from the same ethnic background.
Why aren’t more people signing up to be donors? The procedure is not as invasive as you think. Most of the time an actual “bone marrow” donation isn’t needed. Instead, blood is drawn from one arm, the cells needed for the bone marrow recipient are separated out, and the donor gets the remaining blood back through the other arm. Even if actual bone marrow IS needed, it’s an outpatient procedure with a short recovery time.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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