Ivinson Memorial Hospital Registering Bone Marrow Donors

Ivinson Memorial Hospital, in conjunction with the Love Hope Strength Foundation, is holding a bone marrow drive to build the international bone marrow donor list. Assistant Marketing Director Jaime Stine says the drive will be held at the Meredith and Jeannie Ray Cancer Center on Wednesday, June 15 from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Registering for the bone marrow list is quick and painless, all it takes is a swab on the cheek. If you are a match for someone, the donation processes are both done on an outpatient basis. According to the DKMS Americas website, “Any generally healthy person between the ages of 18 and 55, who weighs at least 110 pounds and does not exceed a maximum body mass index (BMI) of 40, can register as a donor.” The following is a specific list of donor requirements for the DKMS registry:

Potential Donors MUST:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 55
• Be in good general health
• Weigh more than 110 lbs but not exceed BMI 40
• Not be HIV positive or have AIDS
• Not have had heart surgery or heart disease
• Not have autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis
• Not have sleep apnea, breathing problems or severe asthma (daily inhalers are acceptable)
• Not have diabetes requiring insulin (or injectible medication)
• Not have hepatitis B or C
• Not have kidney or liver disease
• Not have had a stroke (including a TIA)
• Not have chronic or severe neck or back problems
• Not have epilepsy or have had a seizure within one year
• Not have had a blood clot or a bleeding disorder
• Not have a personal history of cancer (melanoma, breast, bladder and cervical cancer [stage 0, in situ] and cured localized skin cancer [basal cell or squamous cell] are acceptable)

The international bone marrow donor list is used to find donors to help treat patients afflicted with leukemia. Currently, there are more than 2.7 million registered donors worldwide and more than 25,000 bone marrow transplants have been enabled by this list.

The Love Hope Strength Foundation is the world's leading rock and roll cancer foundation. The mission is to save lives, one concert at a time, with the advances that have already been made in cancer care. We do not fund cancer research, rather we use our funds to purchase medical equipment and supplies, raise awareness through special events, documentaries and media, build cancer centers and find bone marrow donors. In conjunction with DKMS Americas, Love Hope Strength has registered over 10,000 new marrow donors and located 85 potentially life-saving matches. For more information on www.lovehopestrength.org.