Bone Marrow Search - Emru on CBC News

Emru Townsend is suffering from acute myelogenous leukemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. In this news story, he speaks about the need for more people to register as potential donors, especially minorities.

While this is a Canadian news broadcast, this issue affects people around the world. For more information and to find out how you can help, visit www.healemru.com.

HOW TO REGISTER:

In QUEBEC:

1. Fill in the consent form found at http://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/anglais/cellulessouches/registre/sinscrire.htm and send it back.
2. When you get a call a week later from Hema Quebec, set up your appointment (Hema Quebec offices or a blood drive, at your convenience). If you don't get a call, call them back.
3. At your appointment, provide a sample of blood.

Quebec does not run bone marrow drives.

In CANADA (everywhere outside Quebec)

1. Fill in the online consent to order your mouth swab kit online. www.onematch.ca/registry
2. When you receive the test at home, follow the instructions in the kit. It should not take you more than five minutes.
3. Send it back. You're done.

Canada does not run bone marrow drives.

In the UNITED STATES
(You will mostly likely pay a fee. See below for how to get around this.)

METHOD A
1. Fill in the online consent to order your mouth swab kit online. www.marrow.org
2. When you receive the test at home, follow the instructions in the kit. It should not take you more than five minutes.
3. Send it back. You're done.

METHOD B
Attend a bone marrow drive. You can search for drives near to you at www.marrow.org

METHOD C
Go to a donor center.
By state: http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Join_the_Donor_Registry/Join_in_Person/US_Donor_Ce...

Ways to get around the fee (typically $52):
Check your health insurance which usually covers it.
Go in person to your local recruitment center, if you're in a minority donor pool.
Go to a drive, sometimes the fee is partially or entirely subsidized.
Donate platelets to offset the fee.
Find someone who has a promotional code, and enter it when you order the kit online to get it free. Personally, I would only encourage people to use the promo code if they share a similar ethnic background to the person whose family or friends is offering the promo code. Promotional codes are a set fee paid for by private individuals to subsidize US registrants. This is often a family hoping for people of a specific background to register to enrich a particular donor pool to increase that person's chances to live.

In the UK:

1. Go to the website and enter your information. www.blood.co.uk
2. You will be contacted by National Blood Services and will get a blood sampling kit.
3. Take the sampling kit to a clinic or hospital and they will draw a small sample of blood.

The UK runs bone marrow drives.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• bone
• marrow
• transplant
• emru
• heal
• donor
• registration
• cbc
• news
• montreal
• canada

[Marikafan]

At least he gave people hope...

[Drevtoobe]

So long Emru, I knew you briefly 10 years ago and I could see that you had a shining light within. You made a difference for others through your efforts and those of your family. Your efforts will save other lives. He who saves one life saves the entire universe.