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Potential stem cell and marrow donors to be registered
The Communication Studies Club and the Communication Studies Department are teaming up to register possible future donors of stem cells and bone marrow.
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) provides marrow and stem cell transplants to patients with life threatening diseases. The Communication Studies Club has decided to put on its second drive in two years. The first drive was inspired by an SCSU faculty member who was battling Lymphoma and needed to receive a transplant from a donor who was not related. Last year the Communication Studies Club registered over 140 people, according to Professor Diana Rehling of the SCSU Communications Studies department. The Communication Studies Club is hoping to register 105 more possible donors to this year's list.
"We have already filled up to about 33 slots," Rehling said. "After we have filled 105 slots, there will be no more."
Granite City Rotary is paying for the cost of the marrow and stem cell drive. According to Rehling, the cost of joining the marrow and stem cell registry would cost a person anywhere from $100 up to over $200. The Granite City Rotary is paying the bill for anyone that joins the registry through the drive put on by the Communication Studies Club. Each donor will end up costing the Granite City Rotary $90, according to Rehling. Other companies that will be donating to the marrow and stem cell drive are St. Cloud Hospital, Coborns, St. Cloud Floral, Bernick's, Rainbow Foods and Community Bio- resources.
The registry is going to take place on April 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Atwood Ballroom. Those who are interested in joining the registry are to make an appointment. There are sign-up sheets circulating around campus. Students who sign up on one of these sheets will be asked to sign their name, indicate their e-mail address, telephone number and preferred appointment times.
The other way to make an appointment for the registry is to contact Professor Diana Rehling.
Those making appointments must also allow about 15- 30 minutes to give a blood sample and fill out a health questionnaire. The blood samples will be drawn by nurses from the St. Cloud Hospital, according to Diana Rehling.
The blood sample and the questionnaire are taken to make sure that the donor is a healthy candidate to donate bone marrow and stem cells.
Donors are also asked to bring their driver's license, and the address and phone number of their employer.
The address and phone number of two close friends or relatives with whom the donor does not live with will also be required for contact purposes in the future. Each donor of stem cells and bone marrow is on the registry until they are 60 years of age, and the donor must also be at least 18 years of age.
The Communication Studies Club encourages anybody to donate. Diana Rehling feels that a diverse mix of applicants could be helpful to those in need of transplants.
Rehling insists that she is no expert, but she does say that statistics don't lie.
"Racial diversity is very important, because statistically there is a better chance of finding a match within the same race of the patient," said Rehling.
Rehling also encourages those that are thinking about joining the bone marrow and stem cell registry to check out the National Marrow Donor Program web site at www.marrow.org.
Students that have already made their appointments for the registry are strongly encouraging others to join as well.
"This is something people should do, it is an opportunity to do something good for someone else," said Kirk Mueller, an SCSU senior.
Mueller also feels that everyone should join the bone marrow and stem cell registry because there may be a need for very specific types of bone marrow and stem cells in the future.
"Down the road somebody may need some bone marrow that matches only yours," Mueller said, who is a Mass Communications major.
Geoff Higgins can be reached at: [email protected]
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