The Elizabethtown College Pre-Health Society has partnered up with a non-profit organization called Be The Match. Be The Match is operated by the National Bone Marrow Program and has dedicated its time and effort to getting life-saving transplants for patients in need. These patients have a range of serious diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. A bone marrow or a cord blood—blood that remains in the umbilical cord—transplant is what they need as the best type of treatment.
According to Etown’s website, the Pre-Health Society’s purpose “is to act as a bonding environment of bringing together all students interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field (Physician Associate, Physical Therapy, Dental, Veterinary, Osteopathic, Optometry, Allopathic (MD), Osteopathic (DO), Pharmacy, etc.).” They hope to motivate and support students who plan on entering the healthcare field by providing educational resources and service opportunities, such as this partnership.
The story starts with Robert and Sherry Graves’ 10-year-old daughter, Laura, who was diagnosed with leukemia. The loving parents were willing to do whatever it takes to help their daughter. In order to save her life, they had to change treatment options, and it was then that they agreed to try the first bone marrow transplant for a leukemia patient ever. Laura received her transplant in 1979, and after it was deemed a success, the Graves set out to find a way to make every family feel the same kind of hope. Thus, Be The Match was born.
Within the last year, the organization has facilitated more than 111,000 blood stem cell transplants and over 6,287 transplants. The very first transplant conducted as part of the National Bone Marrow Program was in 1987 done by Diane Walters. She donated bone marrow to a six-year-old in North Carolina. Anyone is able to donate and they are improving and developing new cellular therapies to advance further into making the transplant process quick, easy and efficient.
They are not going to stop fighting for better outcomes and continue to save more and more lives. Senior education major at the College Korinne Geiger believes that it is a good idea to help make a difference in someone’s life. “I knew that these [getting injections for a week] were the type of donor options,” she said. “But I didn’t know there was so much you have to do before you donate.” However, that did not deter her away from the idea of being a donor herself.
Senior criminal justice major who also attends Etown Rachel McCarthy spoke about how big of a commitment it is to become a donor. “This process is way more extensive than simply giving blood,” she said. However the overall idea of being a donor and helping save someone’s life is a greater action than the upkeep.
If you are interested in donating to Be the Match, please complete this interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwACxJe2eK47-atpk7ze2vy_veTl6U591AmGjIPX8dWqZGjA/viewform.
The Pre-Health Society did not respond for a comment.
