Have you ever wondered about what would happen if you or one of your loved ones was diagnosed with blood cancer? Or maybe you have considered being responsible for saving a life? On Wednesday, September 21st, the students in the Medical Assistant program at Ross Medical Education Center in Lansing, Michigan attended a presentation given by Caitlin Regan, Community Engagement Representative for Michigan Blood’s Be The Match program. During her presentation, they learned how they could possibly be the one to save someone’s life.
Michigan Blood is a non-profit organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Be The Match Registry is their national bone marrow donor program. Michigan Blood offers a quick and simple registration, which requires only a non-invasive cheek swab test to initiate the process. Once on the list, the potential donor’s tissue type is included in the search process for every patient in need. If the donor is found to be a perfect match, a representative from Michigan Blood guides them through the next stages of the process. There is no cost to the donor and very little interruption to their normal routine.
It’s a little known fact that only 30% of potential bone marrow recipients have a fully matched donor in their family, leaving 14,000 patients annually who desperately need a transplant from someone other than a family member. The Ross campus in Lansing is very proud of the 34 Medical Assistant students who took the plunge and signed up for the registry. “Hopefully their participation will inspire fellow Ross associates and students to join in this mighty life-saving effort,” said Lansing Office Assistant Debbie Majinska.
To receive more information on registering for the Be The Match Registry or to learn how you can schedule or attend a presentation, please contact Caitlin Regan at (616) 233-8609 or cregan@miblood.org.