Searching for a match
March 05, 2013,
Jenny Pastirik, right, a sophomore from Streator studying dental hygiene, prepares a second cotton swab for Brittany Thiele, left, a sophomore from Pittsfield studying dental hygiene, as Thiele swabs the inside of her cheek Monday at the School of Allied Health’s Be The Match marrow registry. Elaine Broomfield, of Marion, requested the organization visit the school on behalf of her son, Robert Broomfield, who is the academic adviser for the School of Allied Health. Robert was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, and he — along with many others like him — need bone marrow transplants. A donor is put on the registry by swabbing his or her mouth and filling out some paperwork, and a donor will be called to undergo more tests and potentially donate if he or she is matched with someone in need. Tissue types are inherited, which means patients are more likely to find a match within their own race. Amy Brousseau, an account executive for Be The Match, said there is a great need for people of a minority to join the registry because of this.
Sarah Schneider-Daily Egyptian