Mixed Race Donors Needed

More and more, we are becoming a mixed race society. There are over 5 million mixed race Americans -- some Asian and Caucasian, some Hispanic and Native American, and some African-American and Caucasian and the list goes on. When a person of mixed race needs a bone marrow transplant, the donor pool becomes very small. People with leukemia, blood diseases, and lymphoma can't always find a match within their family. With people of mixed race, sometimes neither side matches due to the mix. This could also be a problem with an adopted child of mixed race. To find donor matches, typically the National Marrow Donor Program is contacted. With all of the possible ethnic mixes, finding a bone marrow donor can be daunting and sometimes all but impossible. There are lists of people waiting to find a donor. Many are children. If you are of mixed race or know others who are, please encourage them to go to the site of the National Marrow Donor Program at http://www.marrow.org/ and click on "be the match". Even cord blood can save a life. There is also a place to make contributions. The most important thing is to spread the word that people of every race are needed to help save lives. If one of our children were suffering, we would want everyone we know to be available and willing to help. How would you feel if you could save a life? You can.