From Thao Silke Pross via AVI listserv:
Hi,
My name is Thao and I am a Vietnamese adoptee. I would like to take the chance to draw attention to a topic that could be quite interesting for us as Vietnamese adoptees. My (adoptive) dad has been diagnosed with leukemia May this year and since then I have read a lot about leukemia and stem cell transfusion. Fortunately a stem cell donor could be found for him in the US.
For many patients a stem cell transfusion is the only chance to survive. A certain percentage can receive life-saving stem cells from relatives. If none of the relatives fit, then a match can be found in the bone marrow registry “National Marrow Donor Program”.
However, as Vietnamese adoptees, we often don’t know our biological relatives. Furthermore, the National Marrow Donor Program as well as the equivalent organizations in other countries lack donors of Asian or mixed heritage.
Most donors registered are Caucasians and in case they would need stem cell transfusions their chances to find a match are approximately 80%. For Asians or those of mixed heritage chances to find a match are far lower, if not even half.
For stem cell transfusion racial and ethnic heritage are very important factors. Because tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity. Together we can increase our chances and become donors for us, our kids, and as well as for any other Vietnamese or Amerasian in need.
For further information click on the following links:
http://www.marrow.org/
http://www.asianmarrow.org/Please consider to register. It can be you, your kids or your (adoptee) friend who could need a life-saving stem cell transfusion now or in the future.
To register or for further information
You are welcome to contact Mr. Ted Nguyen from “Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches”.Ted Nguyen
Vietnamese Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator
Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M)
244 S. San Pedro Street #503
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Toll free: 1 888 A3M Hope.
Phone: (213) 625-2802 x106
Email: tnguyen@Ltsc.org(Only within the US, for other countries please check your national bone marrow registry or ask your doctor of any programs in your area.)
Important information for Vietnamese adoptees in Germany
DKMS mentions a minimum weight of 50 kg, but requirements for donors of Asian heritage have been changed this year and the minimum weight is now 45 kg.A touching story of a Chinese adoptee in need of stem cell transfusion
This is one of many stories which shows we need more registered donors of Asian or mixed heritage.
http://www.kaileegetwells.com/For bone marrow registry in Vietnam, I couldn’t find anything about it, I guess there is none so far, but I would appreciate any information as this is a project that I am interested in.
Thank you for your time,
Thao
http://vietnameseadoptees.blogspot.comP.S. Some more information, because bone marrow donation and transplant have a scary reputation, but nowadays a surgery isn’t necessary anymore
1) How to join the registry: you give a small blood sample or swab of cheek cells to be tested for your tissue type, and this information is added to the registry.
2) PBSC Donation: PBSC donation takes place at an apheresis center. To increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream, you will receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days before the collection. Your blood is then removed through a sterile needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. This process is similar to donating plasma. The remaining blood is returned to you.
National Marrow Donor Program
Source: www.marrow.orgInformation and resources for donors, patients and physicians about bone marrow and cord blood transplants and the latest news about the National Marrow Donor Program
