11/2005 Update on Megan Jacob:

Megan underwent a stem cell transplant in January 2005 with a donor match overseas. The supporting treaments have been extremely rough and Megan has had many complications. She has been in and out of the hospital over the past 11 months. Since the beginning of November, Megan has been in the hospital struggling for her life. She has been keeping a positive outlook among her friends and family. She has a tremendous amount of willpower and continues to fight her disease.

Please give her strength by keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.

My name is Megan, and I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease(cancer of the lymph nodes) at age 19.

That was three years ago. I underwent three types of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant from my own stored stem cells, and finally radiation therapy before I went into remission. I was in remission for only a year before I relapsed, and now my only hope is a stem cell transplant with blood stem cells from a healthy donor. My best chance for a perfect match is from another Indian person.

Because there are so few registered Indian donors, I may not be able to find a match in the national registry. Not only is there a desperate need for more Indians, but also for all minorities, including Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and African Americans. I am holding the upcoming bone marrow drives not only to benefit myself but also to help every minority patient throughout the world that is in need of a bone marrow/ stem cell transplant.

Fifteen minutes of your time may save someone’s life. Please bring a friend, and save the lives of two people.

There is only about one chance in 10,000 that someone will match another unrelated person, even within the same ethnic group, but every patient wants to have that chance. The more people who are tested, the better the chances become of finding that match. If you are ever a match for a particular patient, you will be asked to donate either bone marrow or blood stem cells.

Ninety percent of the time, you are asked to donate blood stem cells which a process similar to donating blood platelets or plasma. Donating Bone Marrow is a non-surgical process which takes about a day of your time for tests and donation.

Every step is fully explained and voluntary. If you match and donate, then you are sharing your life with any one of the thousands of cancer patients. What could be an easier or more rewarding way to save a life!

BECOMING A BONE MARROW/STEM CELL DONOR.

HOW?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, donate a small sample of blood from your finger or arm for testing your HLA (tissue) type.

Results will be entered into the National Marrow Program Registry. If your type appears to match any fatally ill patient, we will contact you for further tests. Because of the need for minorities in the registry, government funding covers the cost of minority testing.

Drives/Events

My appreciation goes out to all the volunteers at the drives. The drives would not be possible without volunteer help.

Please email if you have an idea for a drive or would like to volunteer.