The only South Asian Newspaper in Austin

10 year old Kethan is a straight A student who loves to read, draw, and watch movies.  He was first
diagnosed with Leukemia in 2006.  Since the original diagnosis, he has relapsed twice.  Now, the
only hope for this aspiring movie director and thousands of other patients is to have a bone marrow
transplant.  YOU might be the one person who can save a life!  
 
“Kethan is an incredible boy, with so much to give and look forward to in life.  Without a compatible
donor in the database, we are forced to consider alternative treatments. We need to add more
donors. So, please register as a bone marrow donor so other families do not go through this agony. “
        – Lokesh and Sumithra, Kethan’s parents
BECOME A LIFESAVER!
BONE MARROW DONOR DRIVE                 
Sunday, July 29, 2012
12:00 PM –  5:00 PM
Ronald McDonald House 
1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd.
(next to Dell Childr en’s Medical Center)
Austin, TX
Every dollar counts!  
MAKE A $ DONATION $ and select code: KKT 001
www.dkmsamericas.org/donate
Like Cure For Kethan on FB!
 
 
Our mission is to fight blood cancer and save lives by recr uiting bone marrow donors for patients in need.
We are the world’s largest bone marrow donor center, with over 3 million register ed donors. Even so, 6 out
of 10 patients never receive the  lifesaving transplant they need.
 
YOU are important as a bone marrow donor  because every new donor increases the chance that a patient will
find the lifesaving match they need. The donor and patient must have at least 8 tissue (HLA) characteristics
in common to be considered a match  but ideally should have 10. With more than 4000 known characteristics
that can occur in millions of combinations, finding a match is extremel y difficult. This is why every new donor
counts!
 
How do I register as a bone marrow donor?  You must be 18 to 55 years old, in good general health, weigh at
least 110 pounds, but not exceed a bo dy mass index of 40, and be willing to donate to any patient in need.
If you meet these requirements, you will be asked to co mplete a registration form and swab the inside of
your cheeks to collect ce lls for HLA tissue typing.
 
What is my commitment? Your information will be listed anonymously on the Be The Match Registry®
(operated by the NMDP) until your 61st birthday. You mu st be willing to consider donating to any patient
who needs you. You must keep your contact information updated in the DKMS database at all times.
 
What is the donation process like?  If you are a match for a patient, a DK MS representative will contact you.
You will fill out a health questionnaire, and if all is well, undergo additional testing. If you are found to be
the best possible donor, you will donate in 1 of 2 ways. Cells are collected from either your bloodstream or
the back of your pelvic bone. The donation method is determined by the patient’s doctor.
 
1.   Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation
?  Cells are collected via the donor’s bloodstream.
?  To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, the donor receives daily injections of a synthetic protein
called filgrastim for 4 days before, and on the day of the collection.
?  During the collection, blood is removed with a sterile needle from one arm, and passed through a machine that
separates out the blood stem cells.  The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm.
?  The cell collection is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that takes about 4-6 hours on 1-2 consecutive days.
?  While taking filgrastim many donors experience flu-like symptoms, such as headaches bone and muscle achiness
and fatigue. Most side effects subside within 48 hours of donating.
 
2.   Bone Marrow Donation
?  Marrow cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone (not the spine) using a special syringe.
?  Donors receive general anesthesia so no pain is experienced during the marrow extraction.
?  This is a 1-2 hour, outpatient surgical procedure. Most donors are discharged from the hospital at the end
of the day.
?  Many donors experience some pain, bruising, and stiffness for up to two weeks after their donation. Within a week
of donating, most donors are able to return to work school and most regular activities. The donor’s marrow
completely replenishes within a few weeks.
 
More Ways You Can Help:
•  Help us finance the $65* donor registration cost. Make a monetary donation at www.GetSwabbed.org.
•  Organize a donor drive in your community, or at your office or school.
•  Encourage friends and family to register with DK MS at a drive, or online at www.GetSwabbed.org.
•  Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitte r. Search “DKMS Americas” to find our page.
•  Fundraise for DKMS. Set up a fundrais ing page at Firs tGiving.com/DKMS.
•  Go to our website to learn even more ways you can help. Visit  www.GetSwabbed.org. 
* DKMS never requires new donors to pay the registration costs. This is why we urgently need monetary donations to further expand the DKMS donor
database. 100% of every financial contribution is used to register new, potential donors. DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) non pro fit organization.
 
DKMS  •  33 E 33rd Street  •  Suite 501  •  New York, NY 10016  •  T: 866.340.DKMS (3567)   •   F: 212.209.6798  •  info@dkmsamericas.org
IMPORTANT FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT BONE MARROW DONATION.
Why bone marrow donation is so important.

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