BY MARY F. CHUHINKO
Lions’ Pride Staff Writer

Sophomore, Nicole Parisi is organizing a bone marrow drive to help Jackson, a little boy from Tampa, who was forced to spend his 1st birthday in the hospital. Jackson has a rare disease with his immune system called CGD. He is on 8 different medications a day which he needs to take through a feeding tube. Jackson’s only chance at a cure for this disease is a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, he does not have any perfect matches, which is why Parisi is organizing a bone marrow drive, for Tuesday, March 9, 2010, from 12:00-7:00 PM, near the cafeteria.

Q| Why do you want to do this drive?

It’s so sad how many people out there need bone marrow transplants. These people have families; I couldn’t imagine the pain that their families would go through if they lost their loved one because they didn’t receive a bone marrow transplant. The patients themselves are in so much physical pain as well, and in many cases a bone marrow transplant is their only cure. I just want to help people and make others happy and I think it would be an amazing thing to do to help save a life! It is also important to educate people that donating bone marrow is not the most painful thing in the world, and that you would literally be saving a life if they were a match and donated bone marrow.

Q| I understand there are two different ways a person can donate bone marrow, what are they?

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) and Bone Marrow Extraction

Q| How is donating bone Marrow different from donating blood?

Well, if you are donating bone marrow through Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC)

Cells are collected via the bloodstream. On the day of collection the donor’s blood is then removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm. To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, donors receive daily injections of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for 4 days before the collection. So, I guess the main difference is that you will receive this injection prior. This will also be a longer process then simply donating blood, it will take a few hours compared to a few minutes.

The other smaller percentage of the way to donate bone marrow is through bone marrow extraction. Marrow cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone using a special syringe. Prior to having this outpatient surgical procedure, donors receive local or general anesthesia so no pain is experienced during the marrow extraction. This is a 1-2 hour, outpatient, and surgical procedure. The donor is discharged from the hospital at the end of the day.

Q| Are there risks involved?

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC)
Possible side effects and recovery:
Most donors experience headaches, or bone or muscle aches several days before the collection. This is a side effect of the filgrastim injections. The achiness subsides shortly after the collection.

Possible side effects and recovery:

Donors can expect to feel discomfort in their lower back and may experience side effects from the anesthesia, such as nausea, sore throat or light headedness. The marrow completely regenerates within a few weeks.

Q| Is there a specific type of person that would make a good candidate to be a donor?

Really, anyone in good general health who is between the ages of 18-55. It is perfect to have a bone marrow drive on campus because people our age are at their healthiest! However, there is a severe shortage of minorities in the national bone marrow registry. For example, I think a minority has only a 17% chance of receiving a bone marrow donation simply because they cannot find a match.

Q| What is some information a prospective donor should be aware of?

This is a way that you can literally save a life while still being alive!

It would be such a wonderful experience to look back on life and be able to say, wow this person would not have lived if it wasn’t for me. Donor’s never have to pay any expenses involved with the donation process. The patient who you are donating to, their insurance always covers the expenses. However, if you would like to make a donation to getting people in the registry you can go to dkmsamericas.org, on the right side “click here to donate money”, then for donor drive select Jackson Liss- UNI061. This would be a great way to contribute if you are unable to become a donor yourself!
Q| What can our readers expect to learn from the information session that will take place March 2 at 7pm in Selby?

Jackson’s mother will be speaking about his story. I will also go into greater depths about the donation process and have the audience ask ANY questions they may have. Please come out and join the national registry, you can save Jackson’s life as well as others! Someone’s life may depend on you!