Posted on: Sunday, January 19, 2003

Big Island teen needs bone marrow donor

Advertiser Staff

Bone marrow donors are needed to help a 15-year-old Big Island boy who has leukemia.

Justin Komo learned he had the disease two years ago.

With chemotherapy, his illness went into remission, and Justin went on with his life until he was struck with severe headaches during a state bowling competition. A mass was discovered in his brain, and Justin had surgery to remove it.

The surgery was successful, but Justin has not responded well to chemotherapy this time. He is receiving radiation therapy while awaiting a donor to provide marrow for a transplant.

First Insurance Co. is holding a bone marrow donor drive tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1100 Ward Ave.

Potential donors will fill out forms and take a finger-stick blood test.

For more information, call Marie Weite at 527-7578.