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When: Sunday, August 24, 2003 from 1pm - 4pm
Where: 55 Jefferson Avenue, Westwood, NJ, 07675
Who: Hagop Minassian Suffering From Leukemia
Hagop Minassian, age 25, of Westwood, NJ suffers from T-Cell ALL - Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Although he has undergone chemotherapy treatment, his recent relapse makes a bone marrow transplant his only chance of survival.
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His family has been tested and no donor match has been found. His next beest chance is in the Armenian community, which is poorly represented in the records of the National Marrow Donors Program. Although ethnicity is a key element in searching for a possible match, we encourage anyone to donate. Your participation in a donor effort may not only help Hagop, but it could also help someone else who may be afflicted with this vicious disease.
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To be a donor, you must be 18 - 60 years in age, in good health, with no history of cancer or heart disease and within a moderate weight range for your height and bone structure. Your blood type does not matter. This is a tissue match, not a blood type match. All expenses for the Marrow Drive will be paid for by the Minassian family. For more information, please call Linda Berian, VP of the Hope for Life Fund, (201) 960-1056 or email lindaberian@hotmail.com
If you are not a donor candidate you may send your contributions to:
Hope for Life Fund
c/o Linda Berian, Treasurer
6 West End Avenue
Westwood, NJ 07675 USA
The Marrow Donor Program toll free number from US and Canada
1-800-MARROW (1-800-627-7692) to find out more information and hospitals in your area who welcome donors
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General Questions:
1. What is the Marrow Donor Program?
It is a central clearing house for research and accumulation of bone marrow information, along with a record of marrow typing for over 3 million Americans. It is affiliated with many other databanks across the world. If there is a possible donor match, they can find it.
2. Will it hurt?
Having blood drawn is routine and is a pin prick
3. What if I'm a match?
Bone marrow will be drawn from you in an "out-patient" procedure. Plan on going to the hospital in the morning and leaving early afternoon. You will be sedated (some people remain awake, some take a nap). Bone marrow will be drawn (most likely from the hip). This takes very little time, you will spend more time getting prepared and resting after. For a few days, your hip will be sore (like a bruise) but it will not interfere with normal activities. You will not be told who will receive the marrow. The patient has a right to confidentiality. However, it is your right not to undergo bone marrow donation. You cannot be forced to do this if you don't wish to. This procedure is not painful and has no side effects.
4. What other costs must I pay?
None.
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