Race Against Time: How You Can Help Save a Man’s Life
Yvan is your average expat, just like you and me. He moved to Hong Kong 20 years ago, has been working for a French firm and even started a family (he has two kids, ages 6 and 10). He was in perfect health, regularly running marathons until he was diagnosed with acute leukemia last April. Now currently undergoing heavy chemotherapy, his only hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, we don’t have much time – a donor is needed in a matter of weeks. No one in his family is compatible, but if just one person with the right match reads this post, we can come that much closer to saving a man’s life.
According to his doctor, there is a 1 in 50,000 chance of a match from non-Caucasian donors and 1 in 5,000 from Caucasian donors. That is why Yvan’s friends and family are trying to get as many people as possible to register in Beijing through the New Sunshine Charity Foundation, the approved organization in China within the worldwide Bone Marrow Donor Association (BMDW).
From Wednesday, June 20 till Friday, June 29, International SOS will be hosting a walk-in registration from 5-8pm. The “cheek swab” test – which essentially consists of you swabbing the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip – takes just 15 minutes. The results will be published on the donor worldwide registry for bone marrow donors within one month.
“The probability of finding a compatible donor for Yvan here is very low. Nevertheless, saving a life sometimes requires trying every avenue imaginable,” one of Yvan’s friends tells us. To find out if you’re eligible to be a donor and to get more information, visit http://support-bone-marrow-donor-beijing.com.
If you’d like to better understand leukemia and the importance of becoming a donor, consider taking part in a special event for Yvan this Sunday, June 24 from 3-6pm at the Novotel Beijing Sanyuan. Doctors will be presenting on the foundation’s activities, and all drink proceeds will benefit the foundation. You can also make personal contributions. For more information, you can contact Felicia Schwartz at Felicia@hitangandccc.com.
Beijing International SOS Clinic
Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building, 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District (Clinic: 6462 9112, 24hr hotline 6462 9100)
Novotel Beijing Sanyuan
Tower 18, A5 Shuguang Xili, Chaoyang District (in front of Sanyuanqiao subway)
Comments
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Intl. SOS
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 15:01 Permalink
Re: Race Against Time: How You Can Help Save a Man’s Life
Thanks for your words 豆子曰, although please note that only the registration / screening takes place at International SOS Clinic. If a donor is found the actual donation takes place in a hospital in China or in Hong Kong. (Further questions regarding place of donation can be directed to New Sunshine Charity Foundation).
CycleChina
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 06/20/2012 - 12:00 Permalink
Re: Race Against Time: How You Can Help Save a Man’s Life
Great post for a worthy cause! Definitely passing it on.
For those of you who are thinking of becoming a donor, here's some information about the procedure:
The donation is done at a hospital under general anesthesia and donors should block a day for the procedure. Generally speaking, one to four incisions are made on the back of the hip bone, and small, hollow needles are inserted into the pelvic bone and the marrow is drawn out. It does not require stitches, and most donors are released from the hospital once the procedure is completed and the anesthesia has worn off. The amount of marrow that is removed is not enough to have an effect on your health and well-being.
As for side-effects, there may be some pain in the area and some fatigue following the procedure, often likened to a strained muscle. Less than 2% of donors experience more severe complications due to anesthesia or damange to bones and nerves in the area. Luckly International SOS is staff by top doctors, so it that shouldn't be an issue. 
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