Reminder: Bone Marrow Donor Drive for Jasmina Today

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, P.S. 41 (116 W. 11th Street, Manhattan) is holding a bone marrow donor drive, in hopes of finding someone who may be a match for kindergarten student Jasmina Anema, who is suffering from a rare and deadly form of leukemia. Jasmina, who just turned six, is adopted, so her doctors are unable to turn to blood relatives for bone marrow transplants and her family and friends have been trying to draw attention to the drive (see the very touching video at her website). Her mother told the Daily News earlier this week, "I need thousands of people to come," and called Jasmina, who was three days old when she was adopted, "the love of my life." The drive is also to raise awareness about registering as a potential bone marrow donor; here's more information about eligibility requirements.

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By Jen Chung in News on March 7, 2009 8:47 AM

Comments [rss]

Jen Chung

I went and registered—the turnout seemed great, but I don't know how many did head in. There were people of all races and I was impressed with how the P.S. 41 community banded together. Hoping there was a match!

ides_of_march

I hope they find someone.

Clarice City

I became a life long donor when my brother got sick and he needed a match. Unfortunately, I didn't match him, but he has been in remission for years now after an experimental procedure.

The donor drive that we held for him over the course of one day yielded 5 matches!

It's so easy to register, you can even do it through the mail. They send you a q tip, you swipe your cheek and mail it back. That's it. You don't even have to make a donation if you can't afford one.

nicemarmot

I'm already in the system - obviously not a match or they would have called me. But seriously people, go get yourself in the donor system - bone marrow donation isn't even painful anymore, they can pull the stem cells from your blood instead of from your pelvic bone like they used to. You can save somebody's life and the only price to you is a few hours of your time.

EmLocke12

Psst--"rare" not "rarely" in the first sentence. :)

Jen Chung

Thanks!

VanessaNYC

It should be mentioned by Gothamist that they are looking for donors of African decent. I would totally donate to this sweetheart, but I think we aren't a match. :(

Outter Burrougher

but that doesn't mean you can't get yourself in the system so that they can see if you are a match for someone else either currently in need or in the future; they keep a database of eligible and willing donors. its very hard for everyone (though especially members of certain ethnic groups) who needs it to find a match.