Stem Cell Donor Needed Now for Father of Two Small Children

It's not library related but it's more important, life and death. The following is a letter I received that I believe to be legitimate:

Mitchell Brown is a family friend who is living in East Brunswick , NJ with his 3 year old son and two month old daughter. Mitchell was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in April of this year. Unfortunately, Mitchell has not responded to his chemotherapy and his only chance for survival is a stem cell transplant. Mitchell is looking for a matching stem cell donor. He is not expected to survive more than 4-6 weeks without a match. Being a donor today is a lot less invasive than many years ago. It’s quick and as easy as donating blood.

Learn how you can help below!

What Can I Do To Help?

Get Tested

This is the single most important thing you can do. Mitchell is in need of a stem cell donor whose DNA best matches his. The hope is that the donor’s stem cells can be transplanted and start to regenerate new white blood cells that are then capable of destroying his cancer cells. He need as many people as possible to get tested to see if they are a potential donor match. The process is quick and easy.

You Could Be a Match

Mitchell Needs Your Help!

Mitchell has not responded to chemotherapy and his only chance for survival is a stem cell transplant. Time is of the essence so he is asking as many people as possible to get tested now to see if they are a potential DNA match.

How Can I Get Tested?

Call Lab Corp at 1-800-533-1037 and ask to speak to Sharon, Tanya, or David. Tell them that you would like to be tested as a potential donor match for Mitchell Brown (Date of Birth: 1-5-1977). Let them know that Mitchell is part of the Hackensack University Medical Center Friends and Family Account, so they know where to send the results.

Lab Corp will send you a testing kit. The test involves nothing more than a swab of the inside of your cheek. Please understand that there is a cost associated with the kit that is typically not covered by your insurance. Lab Corp will bill you a charge of $150.00 after they receive your kit back in the mail. However, if you are interested in being tested and cannot afford it, please let Mitchell and his family know, as there may be donated funds available to offset the cost.

You will need to follow the directions and mail the kit back to Lab Corp ASAP. When filling out the paperwork, please be sure to give Lab Corp permission to fax your results directly to CarolAnne Carini, Transplant Coordinator at Hackensack University Medical Center . Her direct fax # is: 201-996-5691.

What If I am a Potential Match?

As a potential donor, you would need to come to Hackensack University Medical Center or your local hospital to have some routine preliminary tests such as an EKG, Chest Scan, etc. Once confirmed that you are healthy enough, the transplant involves a shot called Neupogen®, which is designed to quickly increase the number of white blood cells in your body. The Neupogen® sends a message to your bone marrow to start producing more white blood cells, which in turn increases the number of Stem Cells floating through your blood. Shortly after the Neupogen® is administered, you will be required to donate blood for a few hours a day over a two day period.

Please note that as a donor, all medical costs incurred in connection with the donation (preliminary tests, the Neupogen® shot, the blood donation, etc) will be covered under Mitchell’s medical insurance as the recipient and there will be no additional costs to you.

Being a donor today is a lot less invasive than many years ago. It’s quick and as easy as donating blood.

Will you consider getting tested today?

Thank you for your support and please feel free to email Mitchell with any questions at mfbrown05@aol.com or his wife Jill at jillow1231@aol.com.