Urgent Need for Minority Marrow Donors
A comment about the need for more people of color to join the Marrow Donor Registry---I received this letter from Hal Wilkins. 
My name is Hal Wilkins, a colleague of Mrs. Gina Boyd whom you met at the HHS Black History Month Program on Wednesday, February 13, 2008.
Gina informed me of your support of her minority recruitment efforts for the National Marrow Donor Program. She suggested I contact you about the urgent need for African American blood donors. The NIH is currently in great need for more donors from the African American community to support the NIH Sickle Cell Disease Red Cell Exchange Program.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting more than 70,000 people in the United States. The majority of these patients are of African ancestry. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells containing an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen to the rest of the body. There is no cure, but blood transfusions from compatible donors help to manage and prevent the pain, strokes, organ damage, and other complications that accompany the condition.
One in six African Americans may be a match for a specific patient. The NIH Sickle Cell Disease Red Cell Exchange Program is a unique opportunity for African Americans to make a profound difference in the lives of patients with sickle cell disease.
Your assistance with informing our community about the need for blood donation would be invaluable in helping to find suitable donors for our patients.
Donations can be made by calling the NIH Blood Bank at 301-496-1048 to schedule an appointment.
Thank you for your kind attention,
Hal Wilkins
Recruitment Supervisor
Department of Transfusion Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Building 10, Room 1C-713B
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel 301-496-4321
Fax 301-402-1360
HWilkins@cc.nih.gov
Please share your experiences about giving or receiving a marrow donation. Something you say or do could help a relative, friend or another Buddy.
My name is Hal Wilkins, a colleague of Mrs. Gina Boyd whom you met at the HHS Black History Month Program on Wednesday, February 13, 2008.
Gina informed me of your support of her minority recruitment efforts for the National Marrow Donor Program. She suggested I contact you about the urgent need for African American blood donors. The NIH is currently in great need for more donors from the African American community to support the NIH Sickle Cell Disease Red Cell Exchange Program.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting more than 70,000 people in the United States. The majority of these patients are of African ancestry. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells containing an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen to the rest of the body. There is no cure, but blood transfusions from compatible donors help to manage and prevent the pain, strokes, organ damage, and other complications that accompany the condition.
One in six African Americans may be a match for a specific patient. The NIH Sickle Cell Disease Red Cell Exchange Program is a unique opportunity for African Americans to make a profound difference in the lives of patients with sickle cell disease.
Your assistance with informing our community about the need for blood donation would be invaluable in helping to find suitable donors for our patients.
Donations can be made by calling the NIH Blood Bank at 301-496-1048 to schedule an appointment.
Thank you for your kind attention,
Hal Wilkins
Recruitment Supervisor
Department of Transfusion Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Building 10, Room 1C-713B
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel 301-496-4321
Fax 301-402-1360
HWilkins@cc.nih.gov
Please share your experiences about giving or receiving a marrow donation. Something you say or do could help a relative, friend or another Buddy.
posted by andrea roane @ 11:44 AM
4 Comments:
At February 25, 2008 4:10 PM,
Jackie Slade said…
My sister, Robin E. Williams, donated bone marrow to a young man and saved his life. He was 13 at the time and now is 30 years old and cured of the disease that threatened to take his life some 17 years ago. My sister has never met the young man, however, it doesn't matter to her. She's just glad she could help him in his time of need. More people should be like my sister, giving of herself, literally, being totally anonymous and having no regrets. Andrea, I sent an email to the link on the WUSA9 website for possible stories and asked that it be forwarded to you in the event you want to do a story on my sister. I hope you get it.
At February 26, 2008 7:36 AM,
andrea roane said…
Jackie,
Thanks for your email and thanks to your sister for giving the gift of life.
We will talk more about marrow donations in April on 9 News @ 9 AM. I will keep your email if we do a follow-up report on this topic.
At February 26, 2008 1:59 PM,
Jackie Slade said…
Thanks for the note. Is there any chance you can connect me with the gentleman who works with the philanthropic organization? I didn't get his name or the name of the organization. I'd be grateful.
Jackie
At February 27, 2008 7:31 AM,
andrea roane said…
Hi Jackie,
All of the information I have can be found in the body of the original email I received from Hal Wilkins. He has posted his phone number and his NIH email address for those who would like more information.
Gina Boyd, also from NIH Marrow Donor program will be joining us on 9News at 9Am in April to tell us more about the pressing need for minority donors.
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