'Be the Match' swab drive to help find bone marrow doner for young girl

On Sunday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Congregation Bet Haverim will be holding “Be the Match”, organized to find a bone marrow donor for Norah, a 5 year old girl in need of a bone marrow transplant. The swab drive will take place in the Sanctuary at Congregation Bet Haverim, located at 1715 Anderson Rd. in Davis. Norah was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Fanconi Anemia (FA). Essentially, FA interferes with her body’s ability to properly repair its DNA.  If untreated, it increases her risk of leukemia or bone marrow failure to 90 percent. Bet Haverim is holding this swab drive to make it easy for the community to register and potentially be matched. With just a simple, painless cheek swab, we could help save Norah’s life. Adding donors to the registry increases the likelihood of finding a life-saving match for Norah and others in need. For those that could be a match for Norah or others in need of a life-saving transplant, donation is a low-risk outpatient procedure, not unlike a blood donation for most people. All costs are covered. Norah’s match will likely share her Ashkenazi Jewish background. People of color and multiracial people are also underrepresented in the registry and everyone is encouraged to swab. Those who cannot come to the drive can consider becoming a potential life-giving blood stem cell or bone marrow donor by joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. “Be the Match” send free swab kits to those who are between the ages of 18 – 44 and meet health requirements. Learn more about Norah’s story at www.NorahNeedsYou.com  or  https://join.bethematch.org/SwabforNorah]]>