CLARK FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!
On August 13, 2009 my family and
I received a disturbing phone call.
We were being advised by my wife
Sue’s Dad that our 7 year old nephew
Ridgway Miller was just diagnosed with
a very aggressive form of Leukemia.
Ridgway had been experiencing flu-like
symptoms about two weeks prior to the
diagnosis. Ridgway’s mother Sherie
noticed he was not getting any better
and chose a second opinion. Based
on that second opinion and blood tests,
it was determined that Ridgway had
Leukemia.
By that afternoon, Ridgway had been
admitted to Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital, since they live in Ohio. The
next day the doctors began aggressive
chemotherapy which will continue for
at least 30 days in the hospital. The
doctors also predict over three years
of ongoing treatment at home. As of
now, Ridgway is well on his way in his
chemo treatment arena. It will take
some time to determine the outcome of
this first round.
With that being said, we are not sure of
the chance or need for a bone marrow
transplant. However, as we Firefighters
like to say, it’s better to be proactive
than reactive so here is something
you can do. If your schedule allows,
on Saturday, September 19, 2009
we have put together a Bone Marrow
TESTING DRIVE for RIDGWAY
September 19th, 9AM to 3PM
San Miguel Fire Station #19
1273 Clarendon St
El Cajon, CA
“Behind the Vons”
Drive in Ridgway’s name. We will hold can stop by your local San Diego Blood
it here at San Miguel Fire Station 19 Bank and get tested in Ridgway’s name
(Bostonia) from 09:00-3:00 p.m. This as well. My family and I thank you in
is a very non invasive test. advance and appreciate the support
shown to us already by so many.
At the end of this publication is additional
information. The quick version is just Prayers always welcome,
a swab from your cheek with a Q-tip
and filling out some minor paperwork.
No blood, no needles or sticks. Just Kevin M. Clark
a simple swab in your mouth. You will Fire Captain San Miguel F.D Station 19
then be placed in the National Registry B-Div
to see if you are in fact a match for kclark@smgfire.org or 619-992-6589
Ridgway or any other victim of this
horrible disease.
As a brother in the fire service, I so
appreciate how we all step up to the
plate for one another. I hope and
pray you can please find the time
to help out our family. We are
used to hearing we save lives
each and every day. This
is just another great way
to accomplish that same
task. I appreciate your time
and consideration in this
matter. If you can’t make it
on September 19, maybe you
 BONE MARROW DRIVE INFORMATION

COST – IT’S FREE!

Signing up on the National Marrow Registry is easier than ever. Typically there is a
charge associated with joining the National Marrow Donor Registry. If the drive is
not sponsored by a company or organization (and therefore the company pays for
the testing) the cost to the donor to sign up on the registry is $52. However, the
San Diego office has a private foundation that has been set up to cover these costs
for San Diego (and surrounding areas) residents so they may sign up free of
charge! This is a huge benefit both to those wishing to sign up as well as the
National Marrow Program – especially during these hard economic times.

HOW IT’S DONE

To sign up on the Registry, all donors have to do is fill out a registration form that
covers the following information: 1) Donor’s contact information; 2) Secondary
Contact information – this is just in case they move and forget to let the NMDP
know, someone we can contact to find them and 3) Personal Health History. Then
we go over the form with them to make sure everything is accurate and take a
simple cheek swab to get their tissue sample. No blood has to be drawn, just 4
simple cheek swabs. Easy, huh?

DAY OF DRIVE NEEDS – based loosely on expecting no more than 50

donors to join

Now, our basic needs to hold a drive are 2-3 tables 6-8 ft long and 10-12 chairs.
We will bring all the registration materials with us. We can be set up outside or
inside, depending on the location. If we’ll be holding a drive outside, we’ll need a
canopy to set up to provide some shade. If you don’t have a canopy or can’t
provide the day of the drive, let me know and I’ll see if we can get one on our end
for that day.

PROMOTION

If we move forward with holding a drive, I will create flyers that can be used to post
up at the office for employees to see as well as handed out as you see fit. We do
customize flyers based on details for each drive (i.e. a specific patient focus,
location, etc).
EDUCATION

I have noticed with my drives in the past that the more education I am able to
provide those that we’re trying to reach, the better my chance of having them sign
up on the registry on the day of the drive. We use a couple different methods of
educating people to the registry:

1. Education Sessions: I can do a 1-hour presentation with a video

and more complete information on the program and how it works. We
can do this session prior to your drive – that way the day of, we’re
more likely get people to stop by and possibly join. This is a GREAT
way to educate people to the registry and get them involved. I would
highly recommend this.

2. If you believe everyone is pretty well informed or if you don’t think

the above would work for you, I have attached some educational
sheets that provide some good information on why we need additional
donors on the registry. These sheets can be emailed out to your
employees or I’ve also had people print them out and post them
throughout buildings and whatnot. I’m attaching some that I think
would be beneficial. Details on the sheets below.

x Myths vs Facts – this is a great sheet that answers some of the questions
people have and are afraid to voice – I always have this one at all my drives
because these are common questions that help to dispel rumors about what
donating bone marrow or stem cells is like.
x Vital Stats – this is a GREAT information sheet that puts the importance of
the program in perspective. Even with 7 million people on the registry – we
still have 6000 patients every day, Nationwide, that are searching for a
match. What’s even more startling is the breakdown of race on the registry
and how that affects those that need transplants.
x Steps of Donation – Now, this is what most people want to know. If I get
selected as a match, how are they going to take the marrow or adult stem
cells? This sheet answers that question.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify to be a marrow or blood stem cell donor, you:

- Are between the ages of 18 and 60

- Are within 20% of the ideal weight for your height and age set by the NMDP
- Are willing to donate to anyone who needs a transplant
ASK ME!

I know this is a lot of information to take in, so take some time, read it over and
discuss it with friends and colleagues. The sky is the limit… we can do as much as
you’re willing to do.

Thanks so much and I hope we can make this happen!

Melinda Jacobs
Account Marketing Manager

440 Upas Street

San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 400-8209
Cell: (619) 666-7890
Fax: (619) 296-5271
mjacobs@sandiegobloodbank.org
www.sandiegobloodbank.org
Just the FACTS:
Commonly held
misperceptions about
marrow donation can
discourage some from
joining the Registry. Let
us set the record straight.
MYTHS VERSUS FACTS
MYTH: Marrow donation is painful.
FACT: Donors experience no pain during marrow donation, as this procedure
uses general or regional anesthesia.
MYTH: All marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT: Some donations involve surgery and some do not. The patient’s doctor
requests either a marrow donation, a surgical procedure, or a peripheral blood
stem cells (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical.
MYTH: Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
FACT: No pieces of bone are removed in marrow donation. Only the liquid
marrow found inside the bones is needed to save the patient’s life.
MYTH: Donating marrow is dangerous and weakens
the donor.
FACT: Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely any long-
term effects from donating marrow. The National Marrow Donor Program®
(NMDP) screens all donors carefully before they donate, to ensure they are healthy
and the procedure is safe for them. After donation, the body replaces its marrow
within four to six weeks.
MYTH: Marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery.
FACT: Most donors are back to their normal routine within a few days. Marrow
donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for several days or
longer. They may also feel tired or experience discomfort walking for a short while
before symptoms disappear. PBSC donors may have symptoms such as headache,
bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia or fatigue. These symptoms disappear
shortly after donating.
MYTH: Donors have to pay for costs associated
with donation.
FACT: Donors never pay for donating. All medical costs are covered by the
patient’s medical insurance, sometimes with NMDP assistance. Donors are also
reimbursed for travel expenses.
Creating Connections. Saving Lives.
MARROWORG s 1 (800) MARROW-2
National Marrow Donor Program: Entrusted to operate the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program
©2007 National Marrow Donor Program 11021; NOV 2007
 Just the FACTS:
VITAL STATISTICS
You Every year, more than 10,000 men, women and children get life-threatening diseases such as

can leukemia and lymphoma, and do not have a marrow donor in their family. To live, they need
to find an unrelated marrow donor whose tissue type matches their own. Patients are most
likely to match donors of their same race and ethnicity.
help! Be the one to give hope to patients in need.
There are simply not enough racially or ethnically diverse members on the National Marrow Donor
Join the Program® (NMDP) Registry to meet the needs of patients. Currently only a little more than 1.8
million people of the nearly 7 million Registry members are of racial and ethnic diversity.
NMDP
Getting patients to transplant quickly is often critical.
Registry The NMDP is working to overcome barriers that slow this process. More donors of the same
race and ethnicity are needed to help patients find matches sooner. We are also working with
medical professionals and insurance companies to help every patient receive the transplant he
or she needs.
If more people joined the Registry, more patients would find a donor.

The NMDP Registry (7 million total)1 Patients who DO NOT receive a

life-saving transplant2
100% 100%
Caucasian - 73% (5 million)
90% 90%
Hispanic/Latino - 10% (650,000)
80% 80% African
83%
% 81%
%
70%
African American/Black - 8% 70% American/Black
(515,000) 75%
5%
60% 60% American Indian/
Asian/Native Hawaiian/ 61%
% Alaska Native
50% Pacific Islander - 7% (459,000) 50% 55%
40% 40% Asian/
Multiple Race - 3% (180,000) Native Hawaiian/
30% 30% Pacific Islander
American Indian/ 20%
20% Caucasian
Alaska Native - 1% (80,000)
10% 10%
Hispanic/Latino
0 0
1 2
Numbers reflect U.S. recruitment activity as Based on searches that did not proceed to transplant
of October 1, 2007. Numbers, percentages within 6 months. Additional patients received their
and totals may not coincide due to rounding. transplants later than 6 months.
Remainder of the Registry are unidentified.

Creating Connections. Saving Lives.

MARROWORG s 1 (800) MARROW-2
National Marrow Donor Program: Entrusted to operate the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program
©2008 National Marrow Donor Program 11023; APR 2008