Soroptimists conduct donor event

A volunteer explains the swabbing procedure to one of 21 prospective donors during a bone marrow registration drive on Tuesday.

By Colette Lefebvre-Davis

Nevada Daily Mail

Citizens of Nevada turned out on Tuesday afternoon at the United Methodist church, to donate their marrow to the National Bone Marrow donor program.

Donors were welcomed at the door by greeters who held a card that denoted the requirements that a donor needed to meet in order to continue the process. After they passed the greeters test there were admitted to what was labeled as Station No. 2, where the donors watched a video about the National Bone Marrow donor program, as well as what their role as donors would be.

In 2000, more than 100 people participated in a similar event from Nevada and the surrounding area. Registration and tissue typing are the first steps to becoming a donor. The chances of actually becoming a donor are slim, but if a donor were called to proceed blood testing, a medical examination and counseling would preempt the procedure.

Donors were then sent to a third station, administered by a representative from the national Bone Marrow program, Lagail Chism, a recruiter.

"I do this all year 'round, because the need is great." said Chism. "What better way to give than to give of yourself."

In order to be eligible, donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60, in general good health with no history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease or heart attack and free of the risk of HIV and AIDS.

Station No. 4 was the initial swabbing, where donors receive four swabs and were given instructions on how to swab the inside of their mouths and place the swabs in a special envelope.

"We are also very proud of our supporters, who have provided donations so that our donors do not have to pay for the procedure." said Martha Bledsoe.

According to Bledsoe and her fellow greeter Becky Kiel, during the first half hour there were more than 15 donors present.

The National Bone Marrow Donor program has facilitated more than 18,000 transplants for patients who do not have matching donor's in their families. The local drive for volunteers is working through the Heart of America Donor Center located in Leawood, Kan.

For more information contact Mary Reinert at (417) 448-1212 or visit www.marrow.org.