Anothertyphoon has hit the home country.
Recently, typhoon Juan hit part of the Philippines and as history showed, the Filipino community around the world, banded together to help those affected in the mother country.
Filipinos pride themselves in helping one another. When Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the home country, Filipinos from all over the world emptied their closets, donated money, clothes, medicine, canned foods, and other supplies to victims known and unknown. Some even went home and volunteered with the Red Cross.
But when it comes to something simple like donating bone marrow, the Filipino community has not been as active.
According to the National Bone Marrow Registry, Filipinos are the most underrepresented minority in their database, only comprising of .6 percent of those who have donated.
Given that the chances of finding a match are 1 in 20,000, the chances for a Filipino who may need a bone marrow transplant, is slim.
It’s a reason why for 18-month old Filipino Aaden of Milpitas, CA. needs the Filipino communities help.
Last August, little Aaden was diagnosed with AML better known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare form of leukemia and so far none of his close relatives have been a match.
It’s almost a recurring story in our community – it’s easy to give money or old clothes but how about taking a little bit of time to fill out a form that takes five minutes and swab a couple of q-tips in your cheek.
When donating bone marrow, it is not a guarantee that one will be a match but knowing that one has done his best to help someone else’s life is well worth it.
Bone marrow registration drives are held often in most parts of the country. It would indeed be very good to see more Filipino-Americans give themselves like they always do whenever there is a typhoon.(AJPress)
( www.asainjournal.com )
( Published October 28, 2010 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. A6 )
