A bone marrow donor registry will be available for USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Sailors and their families Feb. 7-10, from 8 to 2 p.m., in Barge Classroom 1-A.

According to Commander, 3rd Fleet Bone Marrow Donor Coordinator Lt. Cindy Campbell, “an estimated 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. are diagnosed each year with leukemia, aplastic anemia or other fatal blood diseases.

For many, the only hope for survival is a marrow transplant. Nearly 70 percent of these patients cannot find a match within their own family. They need to find unrelated marrow donors.”

Campbell said the procedure for registering is short and simple.

“A tablespoon of blood will be drawn, which will be Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) type tested,” said Campbell. “After typing, your name is placed on the national registry. If someone who is sick matches your HLA type, the DoD Bone Marrow Donor Center will call you and ask if you are still willing to be a donor. You and your spouse are given TAD orders to Washington D.C. The marrow is removed through a minor procedure in about 60 minutes. Only a very small amount of marrow is needed to save a life, and your marrow will replenish itself in only a few days.”

Campbell said the DoD Bone Marrow Center also has a military contingency mission to provide immediate donor searches in the event of a mass casualty incident involving chemical or radiation exposure. These toxic agents can destroy marrow.

“In essence registering could save somebody’s life,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nannette Brown, ship’s nurse on board Stennis. “There’s about 500 people in the DoD who need bone marrow transplants. The more people who register, the better the chances of those people finding a match.”

Brown said the bone marrow donor registry is much less restrictive than donating blood. Sailors and family members between ages 18 and 60 can register even if they have taken anti-malaria medication, had a recent tattoo or served in the UK, Europe, Iraq or Africa.

For information, visit http://www.dodmarrow.com{{PERIOD}}