“One for Jasmina”

I recently became interested in Jasmina’s story after a good friend of mine befriended her. Jasmina Anema,is a 6-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia called NK (natural killer) Cell Leukemia ;her doctors determined her only chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant.

Doctors say that finding a perfect bone marrow donor will be extremely difficult, because African-Americans make up only 8% of the bone marrow registry and have more diverse tissue types. Jasmina has no full siblings, and because she was adopted, there is no information about her extended birth family, which makes it that much harder to find a match.

Thousands have come out so far at various donor drives across America since Jasmina was diagnosed in January of 2009, but still no luck…her doctors have said that without a match, she could die within the next 2 months. Please , please, please register online and see if you’re a match. It’s simple, all you have to do is register here–> http://www.dkmsamericas.org/category/learn-how-you-can-help/become-donor DKMS will mail you a ‘Do-it-yourself kit in which all you have to do is swab the inside of both cheeks and send it in for DNA testing and if you’re a match, you will be contacted. If you’re found to be a match, more testing will need to be done to determine if you are the best suitable match for Jasmina. The Artoholiks need your help to save little Jasmina.

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**POTENTIAL DONORS MUST
- Be between the ages 18-55
-Be in good general health
-Not be HIV positive or at risk for AIDS
-Not have severe heart disease
-Not have a history of cervical, breast, or bladder cancer
-Not have severe asthma (Daily inhalers are acceptable)
-Not have diabetes that requires insulin
-Not have hepatitis
-Not have epilepsy
-Not have severe or chronic back problems or surgery
-Not have autoimmune disorders like lupus, MS, or rheumatoid arthritis

*If you are ineligible or do not wish to register as a potential bone marrow donor you can help in other ways like making a monetary contribution. Lab fees are $65 per donor, but any amount is welcomed (in other words, you would be sponsoring a donor).

– Donate securely on Jasmina’s website given below via e-check, credit card, or stock donation. Use drive code JAA001 when making donations.

OR

Send checks, payable to “DKMS Americas”.
Put drive code JAA001 on the memo line.
Send checks to:
DKMS Americas
33 East 33rd Street, Suite 501
New York, NY 10016

For more information (and donor sites) please go Jasmina’s website at www.oneforjasmina.com

*Special thank you to Kareen Bruce