For minorities with blood disease,
a dangerous gap in marrow donors
Each year, more than 30,000 people diagnosed with fatal blood diseases look to a bone marrow or umbilical cord transplant as their only chance for survival.
On Thursday, members of the local community had a chance to help. They could add their names to a national bone marrow registry. The annual Washington and Lee Bone Marrow Drive was sponsored by the local Xi Delta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
The procedure was simple: 10 minutes, no cost, and a quick, painless cheek-swab to test for individual tissue type. For donors who are ever matched with a patient in need, the subsequent process can become longer and more uncomfortable.
Only 30 percent of patients with fatal blood diseases gain access to the transplant that will save them, and individuals from racial and ethnic minorities may have a significantly lower chance of finding a bone marrow donor.
The National Marrow Donor Program maintains a working registry of donors willing to participate in a bone marrow transplant. Of the 7 million people listed, 26 percent are minorities. Minorities make up about one third of the nation’s population overall. But only 8 percent of those on the registry are African-American, compared to the 12.5 percent of the population overall that is African-American.
Because donor matches are most likely to occur among those of the same race or ethnicity, the need for minority donors is vast.
Alpha Phi Alpha has worked to distribute information on bone marrow transplants, specifically targeting the ethnic population in the area. But Fraternity Chapter Advisor Sean Bates said it is reaching out to everyone.
“We’re just trying to get as many people to sign up on the registry,” said Bates.
The fraternity was hoping for 125 people to add their names to the registry on Thursday. By mid-afternoon, organizers were well short of that goal.
Only two years ago, they hoped to get 35 potential donors during the drive. They got almost twice that many.
“I’m always a little nervous about setting goals, and 125 might be a lofty one, but even if we get only 10, 12, or 15 people to sign up, it will be worth it,” Bates said before the event. “If you have one person that signs up, then that could be the one person that will save a life.”
Sophomore Marcus Newsome hopes to be one of them.
Newsome’s decision to add his name to the donor registry was a personal one – he plans to honor a cousin who has suffered from leukemia.
“You really have nothing to lose and so much to give,” he said.
Such participation from minority students and community members could change the life of any minority patient waiting for a donor match.
Freshman Jarrett Smith had his own reason for joining the registry.
“I’m doing it more because it’s just a good thing to do,” he said. “If you’re in a position to help people, then why not? People don’t realize how much one person can really make a difference.”
Smith’s words could not ring truer for local resident Sarah Cumming.
The 17-year-old has battled cancer since the late summer of 2005. When a bone marrow biopsy in February of this year revealed the onset of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) in her system, Cumming turned to a bone marrow transplant for a solution.
An umbilical cord blood transplant was her ultimate salvation.
Cumming said annual bone marrow registry drives such as Washington and Lee’s are vital for encouraging awareness and sparking hope in those struggling with life-threatening diseases.
“[The drives] are so helpful,” said Cumming. “Most people have never even heard of the national registry for bone marrow transplants.”
Cumming said the issue stems from a lack of knowledge, not a lack of desire to participate. While the understanding and support for giving blood is overwhelming nationwide, many individuals haven’t had the opportunity to learn more about bone marrow donations.
Organizers of Thursday’s drive hoped to provide that chance.
“So many people ask me how they could help and if they could possibly be a match,” said Cumming. “And it’s extremely unlikely that one of my friends would be a match for me, but I’ve really encouraged them to be on the registry because they could really help somebody else.”
The bone marrow drives are especially important for ethnic and minority patients praying for a tissue donor match. African-American patients are the least likely group to find a match. One person – one stranger – could change those odds.
“If you match somebody, you can literally save someone,” said Cumming, “which is just a miracle.”
W&L student Jarrett Smith talks about donating
Why are you donating marrow today?
It can potentially save someone's life, and I know I would hope someone
would do the same for me. I don't know anyone with leukemia, but I have
family members with multiple types of illnesses and can relate to someone in
their situation. I have never done this before.
Minorities make a up a very small percentage of marrow donors. Why do you think that is?
It is not one of the major concerns in the minority community, because
there are simply so many other important issues to take on.
How do you think we could convince more minorities to donate bone marrow?
If more minorities were informed about the issue and more bone marrow drives like this were conducted it would go a long way in increasing minority participation.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Luecke
Reporting Supervisors:
Prof. Doug Cumming
Prof. Indira Somani
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd