Our 18-month-old son, Ezra, has a rare primary immune deficiency called Hyper IgM Syndrome. His body is unable to produce certain antibodies to protect him from infection. Thankfully, he has been doing well with the medical treatments that he receives. However, serious complications can arise and the prognosis is unclear. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is the only cure. His doctors recommend a transplant provided a suitable donor can be found. Right now there is no donor in the registry that is a perfect match to Ezra. We are starting a campaign to find his perfect match and we need your help.
The Gift of Life, a non-profit organization, maintains a registry of potential bone marrow donors. A simple cheek swab test is all that is needed to determine someone’s tissue type and to enter the registry. We are asking everyone to consider being tested and entered into the registry, provided you are between the ages of 18 and 60 and you are generally in good health.
It is important to understand that if you decide to be tested for Ezra through Gift of Life, you will be entered into the national registry and could be called upon to be a donor for any other patient in need. Being a donor is a significant physical and emotional commitment. We encourage you to read about what it means to be a donor on either the Gift of Life website at www.giftoflife.org or at the National Bone Marrow Donor Program at www.bethematch.org.
You can also choose to be privately tested just to see if you are a match to Ezra (details below). Family members: Because tissue type is inherited, it is particularly important that you consider being tested either through Gift of Life or privately. If you decide to be tested through the registry, please provide us with your donor ID number so that Ezra’s doctors can specifically check your results.
Please consider taking part in this worthy cause and you might bezocheh to help give the Gift of Life.
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