Since I graduated from nursing school in 1999, I've been working on the "HOT" Unit at Children's Hospital of WI.  
It is otherwise known as the Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.  
Everyday I see kids who are looking for a potential bone marrow donor to give them a chance 
(sometime a second or third chance) of beating cancer and other blood or immune deficiency-related disorders.  
While a perfectly matched family member (usually a sibling) is their best chance for survival, 
only a small percentage has this option which means they and their families rely on the National Marrow Donor Registry. 
The chances of finding a match from the registry is small for these families, 
but even smaller for patients of minority ancestry (espcially African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Asians).
I found this link of upcoming Bone Marrow Drives on the website of one of my patients, 
and while the drive is being held for an adult, anyone who donates could be found as a potential match for an adult or child 
anywhere in the US and perhaps for a patient in another country.  
I have been on the registry for almost 8 years and only once have I been called as a potential donor for a woman close to my own age in Holland.  
After further testing, more suitable donors were found, but the thrill of being even a potential donor was indescribable.
All I ask is that you forward this e-mail on to your friends, neighbors, 
and co-workers and ask them to do the same as there are drives being held all across the country according to this link. 
If you are not on National Registry, please look and see if there is a drive taking place currently near your home.  
From what I understand, all it takes now to get on the registry is a swab of the inside of your cheek and the commitment to donate 
if you are found as a potential match.
THe link to the list of drives is  <a href="http://www.helpvinay.org">www.helpvinay.org</a>
For more information on donation and registration, please visit the National Marrow Donor Program's website at
<a href="http://www.NMDP.org">www.NMDP.org</a>
Thanks in advance for you consideration, 

<br>
<br>Evelyn