91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµ Medical Laboratory Science Society is collaborating withÌýÌýto host a bone marrow drive on campus through Nov. 21.
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The drive to add potentially life-saving bone marrow donors to the Be The Match Registry is a friendly competition with Louisiana Tech.
Be the Match®, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, is a nonprofit which connects potential donors of bone marrow or stem cells transplants to patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, and other life-threatening diseases.Ìý
Of patients who need a transplant, 70% to do not have a fully matched donor in their family. Donors are often found through the registry, the largest and most diverse in the world.
You could help save a life!
WHAT:ÌýMLS Society Be The Match bone marrow drive
WHEN:ÌýThrough Nov. 21
WHERE:Ìý91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµand Louisiana Tech
HOW:ÌýKits can be delivered on campus, requested by mail at or text 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµto 61474
INFO: Emilea Haddox, 318-342-1699 orÌýhaddox@ulm.edu
Emilea Haddox, MLS assistant professor and Bridge Program coordinator, said MLS Society members have taken on this project to raise awareness for the need for bone marrow and stem cells to increase the registry in Northeast Louisiana.
MLS Society members will deliver kits on campus. The process is contactless and quick and just requires a mouth swab and online registration. Once the process is completed, the kit can be mailed in the postage-paid envelope, picked up, or dropped off in room 250 in Sugar Hall.Ìý
To request a kit, call or email Haddox at 318-342-1699 orÌýhaddox@ulm.edu.ÌýIf you are not on campus, visitÌýÌýto register and request a kit to be mailed to you or text 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµto 61474.
Connor Roan registered as a freshman
"We have a current 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµMLS student, Connor Roan, who participated in a bone marrow drive on 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµcampus his freshman year. Connor was selected as a donor match this past summer for a young girl with aplastic anemia," said Haddox. "Connor is now working with Be The Match® to set up bone marrow drives throughout the country."
"It was right after one of our labs here at ULM; I got the call that I was a match," Roan said.
He and his parents drove to Houston for the procedure. He hasn't met the recipient of his bone marrow donation but thinks about her almost every day.
"They said my first update on her would be about nine months after the procedure. After a year we can trade information with each other. I would love to meet her," Roan said.
To learn more about Roan's story, watch theÌýÌývideo.
"The pandemic situation has profoundly affected blood donation and bone marrow drives, although patient's needs have not changed," Haddox said. "Please consider registering to be a bone marrow donor and encourage your students and coworkers as well. Remember to follow the directions on the kit to give 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµcredit for the competition!"Ìý
The Medical Laboratory Science society is a professional society that promotes scholarship and unity among the MLS students and provides a 91³ÉÈ˶¶Òô¶ÌÊÓÆµpresence in the Louisiana medical laboratory science community.
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