By Carol Tannenhauser
Just four years old, the son of an NYPD detective, Ayden is battling leukemia, a blood cancer. He needs a blood stem cell/marrow transplant. That means he needs a donor – a match — from outside his family, because like 70% of those who need transplants, he doesn’t have a fully matched family member.
Captain Neil Zuber, commander of the 20th precinct, covering West 59th Street to West 86th, heard about Ayden’s plight and decided to host a “Be The Match” event. The Be The Match Registry is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), “a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive the marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they need, when they need it. It is the largest and most diverse donor registry in the world,” according to their website.
Lincoln Center, which is located in the 20th Precinct, “has graciously agreed to provide the Atrium as the event site,” Captain Zuber said. “We hope holding the drive in the Atrium will attract a larger group of participants than utilizing an NYPD facility.”
Here are the details:
“The process of registering as a potential donor takes less than five minutes and is non-invasive; a check-in on your cell phone and two self-performed cheek swabs is all that’s required,” Captain Zuber continued. “Please consider helping us, Ayden and his family, and potentially thousands of others waiting to find a life-saving match. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to improve the event, please reach out to me at the 20th Precinct at any time.”
Thank you Carol and WSR for helping to bring attention to this event. It’s difficult to imagine a more worthwhile cause.
Readers, spread the word in your buildings! All those of us past the tender age of 44 can help by spreading the news of this excellent event and cause. Hope there is great turnout – and hope Ayden and his family receive every every help they need.
I don’t understand why folks over 44 aren’t eligible to donate. Any thoughts?
https://bethematch.org/blog/donor-stories/a-closer-look-at-age-limits-for-registry-members/
That poor family. I hope a match is found soon.
I had a donor bone marrow transplant. I am a senior citizen, but I still know the ropes. Please tell the child’s family that the bone marrow transplant program. Has a pediatric unit. Also, it has a very esoteric means of findin donors. My donor was from Europe. Have the family call the BMT department at 212-241-6656. Knowing the situation the agent will refer the family and take care of administrative details. I met the doctor who does primarily pediatric BMTs. He’s a neat guy. Let me know how else I can help. Really, this is the best way to go. Volunteers at random are usually dead ends. Oh yes, there is also an agency called Be the Match. Have the family go to the website of the same name,bethematch.org and get more precise information. The should get the phone number from the site and call them directly. They are very knowledgeable and donoediatric cases all the time.
Thank you. Be The Match is running our program. Please, please come spend less than five minutes to register to potentially save a life!
Capt. Zuber, why can’t those of us over 44 but willing to help, participate?
Is there another time to sign up? I will be working during those hours and won’t be able to get to Lincoln Center. I would love to see if I am possible match. Happy to swab via mail or somewhere else.