January 20. 2010
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Searching for a Bone Marrow Donor
Join the ‘Be the
Match Registry’
Hello, my name is Jennifer Jones
Austin. I am a41 year old mother of
two young children. On Sept. 2 3 ,1
was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid
Leukemia.
Just days before I was walking
around feeling fine, taking care of
my family, going to the gym daily,
and working professionally as an
advocate for children and families
living in poverty. I had no medical
history of health problems. Things
were good.
Today I live with the very real
possibility that I may not see my
children grow up. My doctors have
informed me that my chances of
surviving Acute Myeloid Leukemia
are small unless I undergo a bone
marrow transplant that would cure
me of this cancer. And now my
family, friends, colleagues and I are
feverishly searching for a bone
marrow donor who will help me have Jennifer Jones Austin
a transplant and significantly de­ national and international bone
crease the odds of the cancer re­ marrow donor registries.
turning. As we search, we also are
For this reason, we are holding
hoping to help others like me who national drives across the country
need transplants too.
and online to both raise awareness
Due to dna, there is a greater about the need for African Ameri­
likelihood that a fellow African cans to volunteer to help save
American would be the most com­ another's life by being bone marrow
patible donor for me. Unfortunately, registrants, and to actually increase
however, African Americans are the representation of African Ameri­
grossly underrepresented in the cans in the registries.
No Shortage
of Flu Shots
Free vaccines
also available
Oregon Public Health officials re­
mind everyone that the H1N1 vac­
cine is widely available and recom­
mended to prevent this potentially
serious infection. Vaccination against
seasonal flu is also a good idea.
"Vaccination is the best way to
prevent another wave of flu in Or­
egon, says Dr. Mel Kohn, Oregon
Public Health director. "Flu activity
will continue into the winter and
spring. It's time for everyone who
hasn’t been vaccinated to do so
now, and we have programs in place
to make sure everyone can get a flu
shot."
For many people, getting a flu
shot means a quick stop at a phar­
macy or visit to a clinic. But for
some, vaccination is hindered by
obstacles such as no health insur­
ance, being confined at home, living
on a limited budget or speaking a
donating marrow through a medical
procedure similar to a blood dona­
tion, together we can save hun­
dreds of lives.
T ogether we can hold each
other up.
What 1 am asking my African
American brothers and sisters to do
is to engage and be a part of this
very important effort - not just for
me, but for other African Ameri­
cans. One never knows what his or
her destiny will be or what will hap­
pen in his or her life. Today it’s me,
this African American woman, but
tomorrow it could be some other
African American’s brother, sister,
There are thousands of African
Americans who suffer with Leuke­
mia who can be helped by fellow
African Americans. If we come to­
gether as a community and support
our fellow African Americans —
some we know and some we don’t
know — by just stepping forward,
joining the "Be The Match Regis­
try", and being tested to determine
whether we can help another by
African Americans can save the lives
of many other African Americans.
Here are four important facts 1
want you to know:
1. The only thing required to de­
termine if you are a match for me or
others is the simple swabbing of
your cheek.
2. Due to advances in medicine,
donating bone marrow is as simple
as giving blood. The majority of the
time there is no need for a surgical
procedure to extract bone marrow.
3. Potential donors can either at­
tend a drive or click the link below to
go online and have a kit sent to
them, swab their own cheek and
Today it’s me... but tomorrow it
could be some other African
Americans brother, sister, daughter,
son, mother or the person him or
herself whose in need o f a bone
marrow transplant.
daughter, son, mother or the person
him or herself whose in need of a
bone marrow transplant.
What we do today can affect the
lives of so many people today, to­
morrow and in the years to come. If
we just get involved and register,
get tested and make ourselves avail­
able to someone else in great need
of a bone marrow transplant, we as
send it in for processing. (Every­
thing is completely free.)
4. Finally and most importantly -
Prayer Changes Things! Please keep
my family and I as well as others in
your prayers. Thanks in advance for
your prayers, support and efforts to
save my life as well as others.
Jennifer Jones Austin works for
the United Way in New York City.
MM
language other than English.
Two statewide coalitions are
committed to ensuring all people in
Oregon get the vaccinations they
need. The Oregon Adult Immuniza-
tion Coalition and the Oregon Part-
nership to Immunize Children gather
donated vaccine and clinical sup-
plies for people who otherwise
would not likely get a vaccination.
can’t afford it, can call the Oregon
Public Health Flu hotline at 800-978-
People who need to be vaccinated
against seasonal and H1N1 flu, but
3040 for a location or use the flu
locatoratwww.flu.oregon.gov.
Providence Montessori School
Educating your child for life
Join us at an open house.
•
Saturday, Jan. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Current openings for ages 21/? to 9
• Tuition assistance available
4911 NE Couch St., Portland, OR 97213 • 503-215-2409
www.providence.org/montessori
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M ontessori School
Providence Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic
origin in the administration of its policies and programs.