A Match for Lisa
By Lynne Mays
Just a few weeks ago Lisa White was looking the American dream square in the
eye. Recently engaged to a man she adores and a newly minted graduate of
Life University's Chiropractic College the road ahead looked sunny indeed.
And then she got the "flu." But this was no ordinary flu; it was one that
would not let go. Symptoms lasted inordinately long and tests to determine
why led to a surprising diagnosis. Lisa White has Leukemia.
Leukemia comes is several different varieties. Lisa's particular version is
the very fast moving, healthy blood cell-crowding type called Acute Myeloid
Leukemia. Her cancer has so far resisted chemo therapy. A bone marrow
transplant is not only called for, it is urgent.
Unfortunately, Lisa has a chromosomal abnormality that makes finding a match
through the National Marrow Donor Program very challenging.
There is only so much that family and friends can do for an ill loved one at
a time like this. Prayers are vital and hope is essential, but it is action
that takes the edge off anxiety. To that end, the White family and their
supporters have begun a drive to load the donor network with as many
volunteers as possible, in anticipation of finding a suitable match for
Lisa.
To begin the process of becoming a volunteer for the network, one need only
apply for a registration kit. The kit includes a basic questionnaire about
the volunteer's general health and contact information in the event one
should ever be called upon to donate.
According to the National Marrow Donor Program, "Currently, there are more
than five million donors on the NMDP Registry and we have facilitated
transplants for just over 20,000 patients. Based on these numbers, you can
see that less then one percent of all registered donors actually donate
marrow or blood cells." If ever matched to a patient in need of life-saving
marrow, the volunteer would be asked to submit to a series of tests which
would further demonstrate tissue compatibility.
The registration kit itself is simple to complete and requires no invasive
procedure, such as a blood test. The registrant is asked to submit a cheek
swab for DNA testing. There is a $55 charge to pay for tissue matching.
The White family has begun a fund to pay the $55 for anyone willing to
volunteer for the network, but unable to pay the fee.
Imagine for a moment that Lisa is your child. Described by everyone she
knows as a happy, life-loving, deeply generous woman who likes nothing
better than a good laugh.
One of her friend writes, "Lisa is a really wonderful person. She has so
many friends because she knows how to be a good and faithful friend. She is
thoughtful. She is creative and artistic. She is funny and fun-loving and
always cheerful (always has been). She is one of the kindest people I know.
She is devoted to her family. If you read just a few of the messages on the
TeamLisaHome web site (www.carepages.com), you'll see how much she is
loved."
Now imagine living with the knowledge that "someone out there" has the
genetic match -- the key to unlocking the puzzle which is her recovery.
Please help.
For more information about the National Marrow Donor Program, go to
www.marrow.org or call 800 MARROW2.