By M. English Journal Register News Service
Plymouth Meetings Heather Brucker, who spearheaded the stem cell donor drive at this years Whitemarsh Township Day, with husband Scott and children David, 11, Marissa, 9, and Matthew, 5. Photo courtesy of subjects
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At least thats how Heather Brucker sees it.
When the Plymouth Meeting woman heard childhood friend Justin Kleins wife, Shira, had been diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma and was searching for a compatible stem cell donor, Brucker just felt like I had to do whatever I could to help.
[The Kleins, residents of East Brunswick, N.J.,] formed an organization called Smiles for Shira, and in just a few short months, nearly 100 drives have been held across the country [and] an astounding 19 matches have been made to individuals waiting for a stem cell transplant, Brucker says. Smiles for Shira has done an incredible job of raising awareness of the need for stem cell donors. The number of matches they have uncovered to date is a remarkable accomplishment, and the hundreds of names that have been added to the national registry hold the possibility for so many more.
Reasoning Whitemarsh Township Day with the huge number of people it attracts was the perfect venue to hold a stem cell registration drive, Brucker requested and received permission to do just that.
All that is required to register as a donor is a simple swab, taken from the cells inside of the cheek, the Whitemarsh woman says. Donors must be 18 to 55 years old, in good general health and weigh at least 110 pounds. Once a donor submits a swab, their tissue is listed anonymously on the national Be the Match registry. Donors are contacted if they are identified as a match. Thousands of patients with blood cancers and other life-threatening diseases depend on a match to save their lives. Even with a registry of millions, many patients cannot find one.
All of which makes 44-year-old Josh Dunoffs story even more compelling.
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Whitemarsh Township Day to feature stem cell registration drive