Register - National Bone Marrow Registry Program

Hey all. Just wanted to pass along some info about FREE registration for the Nation Bone Marrow Donor Program that I saw on Lauren's mom's yahoo site. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laurenslife/

May 5th through the 19th The National Bone Marrow Registry Program is
letting people join the registry for FREE! Normally, they charge the
cost of processing your cheek swab (yes, that is all you have to do
besides some paperwork) to enter all of your info in the system.

Anyone in good health ages 18-60 is allowed to join the registry.

Here are some facts about joining the registry that you need to know:

When you sign up, you will be sent a packet that includes the
materials to swab your cheek and return with the appropriate
paperwork. The NMDP will take the items you send them and use them to
enter you into the registry.

Next... you wait. What are the chances you will be chosen? About the
same as winning the lottery. That's right, you may never get 'the
call'. However, if you do, you would have the chance to save the life
of another person... to be their hero.

If you are ever considered a 'match', you will have the chance to say
NO at any point in the process. If you stay a 'yes' then you will
have a physical done to make sure you are healthy and the other
person's doctor will decide what type of transplant s/he needs. Many
transplants these days are done from blood taken durring a Peripheral
Blood Stem Cell Donation. Some people will need to give actual marrow
which is taken under general anesthesia.

It would be so amazing to be able to save another life in honor of
the person who donated their cells to Lauren.

The registry is a great way to help other folks with life threatening illnesses like Gracie and Lauren, possibly giving them a second lease on life. As mentioned above, it requires only a cheek swab (no blood or needles) and a bit of paperwork, and it FREE from 5/5 to 5/19.