The Talmud teaches that a person who saves a single life is considered as if he or she had saved the entire world (BT Sanhedrin). For the most part, we have few opportunities to save a life unless we work in certain careers like medicine or police. Today, you have the chance to do it.
A young, Jewish student from Monmouth county is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. His doctors and family believe that he can not continue much longer in his condition. The student, Marc, is in the fourth grade and he has suffered from HLH (Hemophagocytic Lympho Histiocytosis) since its onset at 14 months of age. HLH is an auto- recessive rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1.2 out of 1 million births. The only cure has been to undergo a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Marc was scheduled to receive a transplant at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati until tests revealed the donor marrow was too risky for Marc's health. A better match was needed.
A young, Jewish student from Monmouth county is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. His doctors and family believe that he can not continue much longer in his condition. The student, Marc, is in the fourth grade and he has suffered from HLH (Hemophagocytic Lympho Histiocytosis) since its onset at 14 months of age. HLH is an auto- recessive rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1.2 out of 1 million births. The only cure has been to undergo a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Marc was scheduled to receive a transplant at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati until tests revealed the donor marrow was too risky for Marc's health. A better match was needed.
I know Marc personally because he was a student in my older son's class - a playmate and a friend - until immune deficiencies required him to stay home and learn with tutors.
You can help. You can literally save a life. It does not cost you a penny and does not hurt at all to get tested (a painless cheek swab). If you are tested and entered into the national marrow registry, you have no commitment to donate. We'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. For reasons I do not yet understand, Jews are woefully underrepresented in the marrow donor databases. The best matches usually come from within the same ethnic group. Marc's family is of Ashkenazic Jewish descent. The best chances for a match come from similar people. Chances are, if you are reading this, that's you. And even if it's not, you should register because there are others who may fit your profile.
You can help. You can literally save a life. It does not cost you a penny and does not hurt at all to get tested (a painless cheek swab). If you are tested and entered into the national marrow registry, you have no commitment to donate. We'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. For reasons I do not yet understand, Jews are woefully underrepresented in the marrow donor databases. The best matches usually come from within the same ethnic group. Marc's family is of Ashkenazic Jewish descent. The best chances for a match come from similar people. Chances are, if you are reading this, that's you. And even if it's not, you should register because there are others who may fit your profile.
Please participate in one of the Bone Marrow Registry Drives on behalf of Marc.
They will be at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County, 22 School Road East, Marlboro, NJ
Sunday, February 10 (I will be at this drive from 5 to 8 PM)
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 12
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Forward this to anybody you know. Feel free to contact me directly or visit Marc's website for more information.
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