ches a day, but therity is 1 in 20,000;

r. For Johnathan, the

s may n represent

C"7he computer dots more than 2,000 s_/ chance of finding a match for a non-for minorities, the odds are even greatersearch was futile.

While it is true thai African AmeriIhc largest group of minority donors in the Registry, the snumbers don't offer a great chance for finding an unrelated mar-row match. The statistics mean that African Americans onlyhave a 30 percent chance of finding an unrelated match as com-pared to the 70 percent chance for Caucasians or non-minorities.

Getting more people to join me Registry is the only way tomake these numbers more equitable for African Americans tofind unrelated marrow donors.

''Medical science cannot invent or create a bone marrowmatch for an individual," says Drew Ross, coordinator. BoneMarrow Program. VirginiaBlood Services. "It is sim-ply about numbers. If youdon't join the Registry,you don't take the oppor-

another chance at life.Simply being iiware of theprogram or process is nolenough," he emphasizes.

When Chris Harris, acousin living in anothercity, became aware of theissue, he heeded the callfor Tohuathan and went infor testing. His tissue typematched.

''Johnalhan was a familymember in need, so to me, itwas just the dutiful thing todo. 1 had no reservations. Italked to my aunt, read thelilcrature. and realized that it« ould be of no ph\ -,ical riskto me." says Chris, a 38-year-old computer analyst for NASA.

thinking about the possibility of saving my cousin's life gave ita totally different meaning. And now with this increased knowl-edge and an actual donation experience, 1 would not hesitate todo it again," he adds. "Not only that, but I have four children ofm\ o w n . so I would ccititmly want someone to react for me ifmy family was in need.''

Giving a tangible MiLMancc thai could cure and save a life ful-fills a spiritual need and helps mankind. "When matching tissuetypes as a donor, you may be the only person or one of a veryfew people in the world who can offer this life saving opportuni-ty to a needy patient." explains Bob Pinderhughes. director ofcommunications and education, NMDP.

In his day-io-da} program activities, coordinators such as Ross.make unrelenting efforts to educate the public and assist in therecruitment and collection process. "It doesn't require muchthought to become a donor," he says.

"If you heard a child screaming in a burning house, you'd runinto the building without a second thought to save the child,even though it would be a great risk to your life. Being a donorand giving your bone marrow is of no physical risk to you. Ifyou're at least 1 6 to 60 years of age and in good health, that's all

While the marrow transplant itself worked, Chris still strug-gles with losing lohnathan to other complications. "I'm thankfuthat my marrow was the right type for Johnathan and that hi:body, did in fact, accept it. That was really encouraging to me. :know I did the right thing, it was just his time to be with God,'Chri says.

of ihe essence in ih i s hle---a\ ing tuwness. The best timtto become a bone marrow donor is now. Every day in the lives 01paiL'iils awaitins: a donor is critical. Sometimes, by the lime a donoiis found, the patient is too sick to undergo the procedure.

A just in time donation came for Donald Collins, now 1"years old. His donor, Eugene Boyd, a 43-year-old Public policjanalyst for die Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.. firslearned about bone marrow transplants in 1989 when two neighborhood families took to ihe airwaves search ins for donors foi

their children. Boyd registered in 1991and was excited on April 16, 1992, wherhe got the call that he was a potentiamatch for Donald, who had been waitingnearly two years for a donor.

"It was the right thing to do," saysBoyd. "It was a blessing from Heaven foime to do this. Being a donor is a physicam unite nation of our spiritual, personal

gol to be there for each other."Bone marrow donation is a criiicalh

important issue in the African-Americarcommunity. In June 1993. NMDP initial-ed African Americans United for Life(AAUL), a na t i ona l education ant

the Registry.;h period, AAUL sej

ericdonors to the Registrywith under 50,000hers have nearK

Recently, theBlack Caucus tobers' respective c

"It is pan

ut...time/ADril 1996