Sarah Hendricks, 39, pays it forward to help other blood cancer patients
in need of a bone marrow transplant to find their match
A local woman and mother fighting blood cancer has partnered with DKMS, part of the world’s largest bone marrow donor network, to help find a lifesaving match for the thousands of other patients like herself in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Hendricks, a school psychologist for the Stockton Unified School District (SUSD), was recently diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the young age of 39. While she was lucky enough to find a matching donor for a bone marrow transplant, many others are not as fortunate. She has teamed up with DKMS to pay it forward by hosting a bone marrow registration drive, where community members can swab their cheeks to join the registry as a potential donor.
According to DKMS, 70% of people suffering from blood-related illnesses must rely on donors outside their families to save their life. Swabbing your cheek is all it takes to register as a potential donor.
For more information on DKMS, to register or fund the mission, please visit www.dkms.org.
WHO:
- Sarah Hendricks, DKMS patient and SUSD school psychologist
- DKMS representative
- Anyone in good general health who is between the ages of 18-55 can register. The process involves filling out a simple form, understanding the donation methods and swabbing the inside of each cheek for 30 seconds. There is no charge to register; donations help DKMS cover the $45 registration processing fee but are NOT required.
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
WHERE:
Walton Special Center
4131 Crown Avenue
Stockton, CA
DKMS is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating blood cancers like Leukemia and other blood-related illnesses inspiring both men and women around the world to register as bone marrow and blood stem cell donors. DKMS is providing patients with a second chance at life, working closely with families from diagnosis to transplant and beyond. The donor journey begins with a swab of the cheek that takes less than 60 seconds and can be the action that leads to a lifesaving transplant. DKMS, originally founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf, has organizations in Poland, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States. The U.S. office was started in 2004. Globally, DKMS has registered more than 7.8 million people. To join the fight against blood cancer or for more information, please go to dkms.org.