Ten minutes of your time could save her life

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A Sonia.jpg

We’ve posted about this so many times at SM and the sad tips and pleas for help keep coming– and that means we haven’t done enough, as a people. There aren’t enough Desis in the national bone marrow registry and because of that sad reality, when my Uncle or your favorite college prankster is diagnosed with a life-stealing ailment, the amount of hope they are given by someone in a white coat is tiny.

Without other Desis in the system, the chances for a match grown narrower and narrower; I know at one point, a non-trivial number of our readers were getting swabbed for Vinay. Thank you for that. You are still in the system. Since then, new people have joined the Sepia Mutiny community and it is my flickering, idealistic hope that one of you is a match for Sonia.

If you are in D.C., please consider going to Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple tomorrow between 11am and 3pm, to get swabbed for Sonia and everyone like her. It only takes a moment and you, you could be the one who saves a life. Please.

8 thoughts on “Ten minutes of your time could save her life”

  1. Thank you for posting, Anna. You’re absolutely right: it is as simple as swabbing the inside of your cheek–all of a 1 second swoosh. And yet, that small, simple act can save a person’s life. Brownfolk, please, register.

  2. So sorry to hear Sonia still hasn’t found a match yet. I remember requesting one of these kits online nearly 2 years ago but I don’t think it ever came in the mail – does anyone know how I could order one online? I looked on the FB page and there are no upcoming events in my area.

    Also, if anyone reading this knows: are registered people required to donate if we’re a match? I imagine having a matching donor who backs out would be more heartbreaking than not finding a donor at all.

    • Also, if anyone reading this knows: are registered people required to donate if we’re a match? I imagine having a matching donor who backs out would be more heartbreaking than not finding a donor at all.

      There is no obligation to donate if a registered person is a match.

      Approximately 50% of all Ethnic Minority donors will NOT push through with donating if called as a possible match for a patient. (whether because they are unreachable, they say “no”, or become medically ineligible). Whereas over 70% of Caucasian donors WILL proceed with donating if called as a possible match [link].

  3. Please visit CureSonia.org for more upcoming drives. If you are a registered user, please take the time to spread the word among your friends and neighbors:

    Jan 15: Ashland, MA

    Jan 15: Lanham, MD

    Jan 15: Philadelphia, PA

    Jan 15: San Diego, CA

    Jan 15: Richardson, TX

    Jan 15: Placentia, CA

    Jan 15: Pittsburgh, PA

    Jan 15: Sacramento, CA

    Jan 15: Canoga Park, CA

    Jan 16: Buena Park, CA

  5. All the best with this cause; I’ll try to find out bone marrow registry in London.

  6. Hi Folks,

    I do want to help her, but the problem is that I live in a remote place, in Northern Canada. Please advise where exactly should I send my swab. You can contact me at karlyarn@gmail.com

    kalyan

  7. I am not saying this lightly. I am throwing this out there. But is it morally wrong to solicit bone marrow donations from poor people in India? Can’t these registries pay these poor people some money to show up and get tested and a bonus if they make a life saving donation? I know I know, it would really raise some hairy questions and one has to study if this would lead to more of the dastardly kidney underground trading.

    But from what I read about this bone marrow donation process, it is not compromising your health. It seems to involve some physical pain. So if you can pay sperm donors, why not pay some poor person in INdia to donate? wouldnt this be more comparable to a sperm donation than a kidney donation?