A January 2004 registration event on Eto's behalf signed up more than 500 prospective donors in five hours.

"It was one of largest drives we've ever had, all because of this woman. A lot of people know her and love her," said Roy Yonashiro of the Hawai'i Bone Marrow Registry at the St. Francis Medical Center.

Eto, 47, was diagnosed in September 2003 with myelodysplastic syndrome, which can lead to acute leukemia.

She was told that patients with her condition could expect to live an average of 3› years.

Because Eto's bone marrow is not making enough red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the blood, she has been receiving transfusions weekly.

Eto also underwent chemo-therapy, but the treatments did not help. In the meantime, she's been battling infections and has been on leave from her job at Maui Memorial Medical Center since January.

She said she's eager to get back to work and remains optimistic that a donor will be found.

Ito said she and her family "are so grateful for all the love, support and encouragement, not just from family and friends, but the community has reached out to us, even people we don't even know."

People who sign up during the donor drives for Eto could end up helping five O'ahu children in need of bone marrow transplants. They include two brothers, ages 14 and 16, with a rare blood disease, a 3-year-old girl, a 6-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy.

Candidates must be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health. A small sample of blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory for tissue typing. For details, call the Hawai'i Bone Marrow Donor Registry at 547-6154, or toll-free at (877) HI-DONOR (443-6667).