Once again, the compassionate staff and students at Ross Medical Education Center in Lansing, Michigan welcomed Caitlin Regan, Community Engagement Representative for Michigan Blood’s Be the Match program to their campus. Caitlin generally visits the Lansing Campus three times each year. It was no surprise that following her moving presentation, the selfless students at Ross were eager to put others first and join the Be the Match Registry in the fight against blood cancer.
Each year, thousands of blood cancer patients learn that no one is their family is a full match – their only hope is that a match can be found from an outside donor. You could possibly be that person! A quick, non-invasive cheek swab test initiates the process. After that, your name is included in a search to see if you are a perfect match for a patient in need. You pay nothing. A brief interruption of your normal routine might mean an extended, healthy life for a complete stranger. The reward truly outweighs the sacrifice.
Joining the Be the Match Registry is simple. The organization’s straightforward Donor Consent Form explains: “When you fill out and sign this consent form, you are joining the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match Registry (the “registry”). The registry is a list of possible marrow or blood stem cell donors.” It further notes that “joining and staying on the registry is voluntary.”
Jordan McDonald, a current student in the Lansing Medical Assistant program, was elated to add her name to the list of potential donors, “I joined Be the Match because the thought of potentially saving someone’s life all together amazes me. If I can help save one life I know I’ve done something right.”
To learn more about this invaluable life-altering program, please visit www.bethematch.org. If you live in the Mid-Michigan area and would like to schedule a presentation, contact Caitlin Regan at (616) 233-8609 or cregan@miblood.org. Please consider taking the first step today – it may save someone’s life.