By writer to www.wcpo.com
It’s regular for Fairfield West Elementary Faculty principal Missy Muller to get stopped for a hug within the halls of her college, however it’s occurring a little bit extra typically this week.
Muller has myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a uncommon situation by which the physique doesn’t produce sufficient wholesome blood cells. MDS can turn into leukemia if left untreated, and Muller must discover a bone marrow match to enhance her odds.
“Final week was a little bit robust, as a result of the youngsters came upon,” she stated Wednesday. “So then, they’re all hugging me.”
Discovering a match for bone marrow donation, like discovering a match for a kidney transplant, is tough.
“They’re wanting, there are 12 (compatibility) markers, as they defined, and so they actually desire a 10 out of 10,” Muller stated. “A 100% match is the best choice.”
Over 37 million individuals are registered on BeTheMatch.org, a website that connects would-be donors with suitable recipients, however website spokesperson Linda Alexander stated the percentages can nonetheless be stacked in opposition to the particular person in want of the donation.
“We have had sufferers which have been looking for years for his or her good match, and we all know the match is on the market, it’s simply that they aren’t within the registry,” Alexander stated.
That’s why the employees at Fairfield West are internet hosting a Discover The Match occasion Thursday evening at 6 p.m., proper outdoors the elementary college. Contributors from 18-40 can swab their cheeks to supply some genetic info to a match database.
Staffers hope it’ll assist Muller, however she hopes it’ll additionally assist different sufferers ready for his or her match to look.
“Somebody who did not have a match, they re-ran it and so they had a 100% match for them,” Muller stated. “In order that was hopeful once I was simply there this previous month. The purpose is to get as many individuals to enroll on BeTheMatch.org and to get extra folks on the record.”
— to www.wcpo.com
