Local Bone Marrow Donor Saves Child's Life

Crofton resident, Laurie Thorne, is passionate about being a bone marrow donor. While on a business call to Johns Hopkins, she was asked to come and find out if she could be a match.

 "Oh what the heck, it seems like a good cause," she said.  A few months later, Thorne was notified that she was indeed a match and donated crucial bone marrow cells to a person in dire need.

Just this summer, she was "matched" a second time, donating bone marrow to "Timmy," ultimately saving his life.

The little boy sent Thorne a letter recently. "He thanked me for saving his life. I cried. How many times in life do you get the opportunity to save someone's life?"

Many, like Thorne, said that the simple swab of the inside of a cheek might be the greatest gift to give this holiday season. By taking a painless sample of cells, volunteers could potentially save a life.

A bone marrow transplant is a life-saving procedure for patients with Leukemia and other diseases. If a patient does not have a family member who is a perfect "match" to them, then an outside donor is needed.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside bones. The bone marrow in the breast bone, skull, hips, ribs and spine contains stem cells that produce the body's blood cells. These are the cells critical in helping rebuild damaged cells lost during chemotherapy and while fighting some illnesses.

Donors are selected if their cell is matched up with someone on the waiting list. During the procedure the patient is under anesthesia and a needle is inserted into the cavity of the rear hipbone or "iliac crest" where a large quantity of bone marrow is located. The pain is minimal and there is no cost to the donor.

Healthy adults between the ages of 18 to 60 that are interested in joining the National Bone Marrow Registry, or want more information about becoming a donor, are invited to attend the "Crofton Cares Bone Marrow Drive" at the on Sunday, December 19, from 10 a.m. to  2 p.m., in the fellowship hall.

Also for more information visit http://www.marrow.org/index.html?src=tabhome.