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332nd AEW personnel register to save lives

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Garcia
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing registered to save lives during a bone marrow registry drive Jan. 20 to 21 here.

This is the second drive the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group has held for base personnel. Major Rachelle Hartze, 332nd EMDG nurse, led the team who solicited for volunteers.

"More than 100 people signed up this weekend, for a total of about 400 volunteers," Hartze said.

Many Airmen had questions about the process and weren't sure if they were eligible to donate, Hartze said.

"People think they are unable to donate marrow because they have been told they can no longer donate blood," Hartze said. "The only absolutely disqualifying conditions for registering are AIDS, any immune system disease and most cancers."

Some Airmen were also concerned about the amount of pain involved with donating bone marrow, Hartze said.

"Bone marrow donation involves a surgical procedure," Hartze said. "It is painful, but you're given an anesthetic. There is also another method called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation. It is done in an outpatient setting with minimal discomfort."

After receiving answers to all of their questions, service members filled out registration forms and swabbed the inner part of their cheeks for DNA.

According to the Department of Defense Marrow Program, more than six million Americans, including more than 400,000 service members, have registered as donors since the creation of the National Marrow Donor Program in 1986.

"It is still not enough," Hartze said.

But the chances of finding a perfect match are increased as more people register.

"There is an urgent need for minority donors," Hartze said. "There are fewer minority donors on the registry, which adds additional difficulty for finding matches for minorities in need."

Those who missed the drive may register individually at the 332nd EMDG or schedule a squadron drive.

Selected donors will fly to Washington D.C. for the procedure.

"All medical fees and travel expenses are paid by the receiving patient," Hartze said. "And, it's considered a permissive TDY so leave isn't charged to the service member."