College of Health Partners with Be The Match to Raise Awareness
by Jessica Degnan |
On August 28th, UAA鈥檚 College of Health (COH) partnered with Be The Match, operated by the (NMDP) to host a registry drive at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The goal was to raise awareness for blood disorders such as blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases that a blood stem cell donation could potentially cure. Attendees who registered gave a cheek swab and were added to the NMDP registry of potential donors.
The registry drive was organized and attended by COH members who have been personally impacted by Be The Match, including Marie Smith, a former adjunct professor for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program. Marie has undergone two stem cell transplants due to a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which developed following complications from chemotherapy during her battle with breast cancer.
Reflecting on her 花季传媒, she shared, "I was so lucky to have more than one match. Since I received my transplants, I鈥檝e learned that many people don鈥檛 have the option of a transplant because they don鈥檛 have a matching donor. Some of the people who were tested through Be The Match when I was searching for a donor helped me realize how great the need is for more people to join the registry. Now that I鈥檓 healthier, I want to see if I can help others find a match."
The event shed light on common misconceptions about being a potential donor. Marie explained, 鈥淎 donation is life-saving, and it's not painful to be tested. In most cases, it does not involve taking stem cells from the bone but rather from the blood." Most matches are found from people with similar genetic origins, such as family members, but in Marie鈥檚 case, none of her family members were a match. She emphasized, "The more people on the registry, the more likely it is to find a match."
LeeAnne Carrothers, Assistant Dean of the School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences and one the event organizers, expressed her gratitude for the support from COH members, saying, 鈥淲e are so grateful for the people who volunteered to help make this event happen, and even more grateful for the 51 people who signed up for the registry.鈥�
Many programs within the COH attended the registry drive, providing swag, fun activities, and more information about their degree offerings. Yeti Dogs and Trendy Eats food trucks parked outside offering free lunches for those who registered to be a potential donor. Travis Hedwig, Assistant Dean of Population Health Sciences, played live music with his bandmates for everyone to enjoy while Anchorage Animal Control brought a dog named Jade who was adopted later that day and found her forever home.
Alejandro Herrera, a freshman majoring in kinesiology, volunteered at the event and registered to be a potential match by providing a cheek swab. He happily shared, 鈥淭here are several ways to help someone in need, and it does not take much effort!鈥�
Although the registry drive has ended, it鈥檚 not too late to register. If you are between 18 and 40 years old you can request a cheek swab kit from the , which will be mailed directly to your home. If you are a match with someone who needs a transplant, NMDP will contact you, offering you the chance to save a life.
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