Need the ATOT Effect: Calling all Southeast Asians

[tfcmasta97]

This is my cousinhttp://www.citynews.ca/news/news_35604.aspx

And he needs a bone marrow transplant for him to even have a chance of beating cancer (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia).

He fought it off 2 years ago, but it has returned stronger and without a matching doner he will not survive. He is 23 years old tomorrow, which is his birthday, only one year older than me. He is like a brother to me, he was the first friend I ever had. I never asked for much in life, as I always knew the best things in life were free. Playing games together, hanging out, I knew he'd always have my back no matter what happened in life. Growing up, there was nothing more I wanted for my future than for us to raise our kids together, where my kids would have great cousins they could grow up with as well.

The best chance for a match would be from someone of a close family background, and we are of Chinese/Vietnamese descent.

If you are a Canadian please visit /One Match --> forms --> join onematch

It only takes 5 minutes to fill out the form, in a week they'll give you a call, and a week after that you should receive a swab kit. You just swab the inside of your mouth and mail it back in their prepaid envelope and they'll notify you if there is ever a match for you... you still have the right to decide whether you want to donate or not. The swabbing you do from home, here's a video of the swab kit, the time it takes to watch the video is the time it takes to get involved... so if you watch it, then please join it.

Video

Please keep in mind the seriousness of the thread, but then again Ive seen the people we have on ATOT.

Here is the American equivalent for all of those in the US that would like to get involved. From what I can tell, it seems very similar to onematch.ca:
Be The Match



It would be really appreciated if the thread could get a sticky

-------------------------------------
Stickied for two weeks

Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy

 

[sunzt]

Is this only limited to Canadian citizens?

 

[Locut0s]

Mods This should be stickied!

 

[zoiks]

Good luck OP. I really hope someone will come to your aid.

 

[Barfo]

I hope your cousin gets the transplant :thumbsup:

 

[Firebot]

I posted a thead about this on the redflagdeals forums, which is one of the biggest canadian boards that also has a very large asian following.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/fo...?p=8968343#post8968343

Good luck

 

[tfcmasta97]

Thanks Firebot, really appreciate it. We have been getting all of our distant relatives involved as my family is and always has been very close, but we've still not yet been able to find a match.

My cousin has maybe 2 months without one, so time is very critical... I'll try to find out how those in the US can get involved.

 

[Howard]

If one finds that they are a match, does the place that does the tests notify the family?

 

[tfcmasta97]

If someone finds out they are a match, they are notified, but the decision of whether they would like to donate or not is entirely up to them.

I believe if you do donate, the identities are kept anonymous for at least one year, and after that if the doner would like to become known they can.


The test itself is 4 cotton swabs mailed to you in an envelope that you swab your mouth with and mail back. The test literally takes a few minutes, and you mail it back in their prepaid envelope.

 

[Svnla]

I am in the US and I like to help.

So if a person is matched and want to donate, what will be the next step(s)?

The lady in the back <in black shirt> is cute...is she single?

 

[Phokus]

Good luck. I wonder why it helps that the person is the same race though, isn't having the same blood type usually enough?

 

[oogabooga]

Best of luck OP - This really does seem to deserve a sticky.

Originally posted by: Svnla
I am in the US and I like to help.

So if a person is matched and want to donate, what will be the next step(s)?

The lady in the back <in black shirt> is cute...is she single?

ATOT does not fail

 

[KeithTalent]

So am I not eligible to donate since I'm a cracker? I thought it was only blood type that mattered.

Anyway, good luck.

KT

Edit: just read this:

A person's best chance of finding a matching donor is within his or her own ethnic group, it is important that the composition of OneMatch reflect Canada's rich ethnic diversity. It is also important for the future of OneMatch to attract young donors.

I'm going to sign up anyway.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Good luck. I wonder why it helps that the person is the same race though, isn't having the same blood type usually enough?

No

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B..._transplant#Allogeneic

Matching is done based on genetics. Specifically several sections of the HLA gene of the two people in question. "In addition a genetic mismatch as small as a single DNA base pair is significant so perfect matches require knowledge of the exact DNA sequence of these genes for both donor and recipient."

 

[FDF12389]

Good luck

 

[tfcmasta97]

Hey, ive found the American network that all those in the States would like to get involved in:

http://www.marrow.org/

Im not sure about the process, but I'll update the first post

 

[silverpig]

Sweet. I signed up. I donate platelets every 2 weeks too. There's gonna be parts of me all over the country

 

[Sea Moose]

sorry, i cant help i am in AUs, but this should definatley be stickied .

 

[Nitemare]

Good luck, I've been in the Bone Marrow registry program here in the US for about 8 years and haven't even gotten a call on it yet.

 

[eits]

best of luck, man :thumbsup:

try other forums too.

 

[Barfo]

bump

 

[LS21]

i have the same dual-ethnic background. live in US. give me instructions on where to get the swab tests

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
So am I not eligible to donate since I'm a cracker? I thought it was only blood type that mattered.\

You can still register yourself and possibly help someone who does happen to be a match for you.

http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Locut0s]

dump

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Good luck.