Marrow, blood drives planned

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

The family of a 3-year-old Kapolei girl who likes to sing hopes to find a bone marrow match this weekend, while a school in Pearl City is hosting a blood drive to try to help a mom and friend from the military community.

Taja Harris

The girl is of Chinese, Hawaiian, Korean and Caucasian ethnicity and has had acute lymphocytic leukemia most of her life, he said. Then in March 2003, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, he said.

Her condition became more serious since November, he said, and her doctors seek a marrow transplant because "the drugs aren't working anymore."

Yonashiro said Taja is struggling with illness but it doesn't show when you meet her. "She likes music and singing and she's a fighter," he said. "She's just a normal kid."

Those who want to try to help her and others waiting for a match can register Saturday at the Korean Festival at Kapi'olani Park. Sponsors are also hoping for a match for 5-year-old Alan J. Pak of 'Aiea who has severe aplastic anemia. He also has a rare bone disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta Type 4 and is of Korean ancestry.

Yonashiro said patients who need a transplant often appear healthy at first, even when they need help. "Leukemia attacks from the inside," he said.

In Pearl City, friends and co-workers of military spouse Lisa-Ann Burnett are sponsoring a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Lehua Elementary School.

Burnett works part time at Lehua, where her children are students. She has lupus, and her friends scheduled the drive as a show of support to her and others with the illness, said Lehua educational aide Mel Odoardi.

"She's wonderful with the children; she's very giving. She's constantly smiling," Odoardi said. "She will give you the shirt off her back."

The drive is being coordinated because people with lupus often need kidney transplants. Blood Bank of Hawaii communications director Stephanie Rosso said transplants usually require a large number of blood transfusions.

"Hosting a blood drive is a great community service because it helps ensure that blood is available to anyone who needs it," Rosso said.

Yonashiro said some characteristics of marrow type are unique to people of specific ancestry, although it is possible for patients to match donors from other racial and ethnic groups.

To sign up as a bone marrow donor, you must be between ages 18 and 60 and in good health; be willing to provide a blood sample that will be sent for tissue typing to test for potential matches; be willing to donate not knowing whom you will match; and provide two contacts to help the registry find you if a match is found.

For more information, call the registry at 547-6154 or visit www.marrow.org.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.