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Bone marrow donor drive set May 2 3:43 p.m., April 21, 2006--During one of her classes, UD nursing professor Evelyn Hayes told about the experiences of alum Laura Mehan Eliaszewskyj, AS '03, in seeking a bone marrow donor when she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. Eliaszewskyj's story made such an impression on the nursing students that the Students Nurses Organization planned a campus bone marrow donors drive to help others in need of donors. The drive will be held from noon-5 p.m., Tuesday, May 2, in Multipurpose Rooms B and C of the Trabant University Center. Eliaszewskyj, who is the daughter of Annette Mehan, administrative assistant in the University Honors Program, had a rare genetic mutation in her DNA, and although her extended family was tested to find a bone marrow donor for her, no match was found. It took 10 months before the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance finally found a match donor. Eliaszewskyj flew to Seattle and received radiation and chemotherapy to kill her bone marrow and to prepare her to receive her donor's stem cells. The transplant took place on March 9, and she is now beginning to recover but must continue to stay in Seattle to be monitored. In addition, a CarePage has been created for Eliaszewskyj with photos and more information. Go to [www.carepages.com] and sign up with a user name and password. The CarePage name is [lauraeliaszewskyj]. This is a secure site. “She is deeply indebted to her donor although regulations do not permit us to know who he or she is for at least a year. Her donor's stem cells have given her a new chance at life,” Mehan said. “This a very important project for the Student Nurses Organization and could give someone the gift of life. We encourage everyone in the University community between the ages of 18 to 60 to take part,” senior Barbara Wojtal, Student Nurses Organization president, said. Each year more than 30,000 patients are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that can be treated by a marrow or blood cell transplant, and 70 percent of these patients do not have a suitable family donor, she said. To register in the National Marrow Donor Program is simple, noninvasive and only takes a short time, according to Wojtal. “All you have to do is fill out a health form and have a cheek swab to determine your tissue type and be willing to be a donor. Minority donors are especially needed because racial and ethnic heritage play a role in matching,” Wojtal said. Besides the bone marrow program, the Student Nurses Organization has joined with Phi Sigma Sigma sorority to sponsor a blood drive from noon-5 p.m., Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4, in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Rooms. For more information about the bone marrow donor program, e-mail Wojtal at [bwojtal@udel.edu] or visit [www.marrow.org]. Article by Sue Moncure |
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