News & Events | Marrow Drive Planned for 7-Year-Old Girl With Rare Blood Disease

APRIL 30, 2004, SEATTLE — Puget Sound Blood Center, the local affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington (AAAW) announced today that they will co-sponsor a marrow drive to raise awareness about a 7-year-old Chinese girl, Kailee Wells, one of thousands of patients in need of a lifesaving marrow or blood stem cell transplant. The drive will be held in the International District on Sunday, May 16, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Chong Wa Building, located at 522 7th Ave. S.

Because she is adopted, Kailee does not have a marrow match from her birth family and must find an unrelated donor from the same ethnic background. The young girl, of Albuquerque, N.M., was diagnosed in January 2002 with aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease that develops as a result of the bone marrow’s failure to produce red blood cells. Finding an exact marrow match is quite often challenging -- which is why Kailee’s parents Owen and Linda Wells, have enlisted local affiliates of the National Marrow Donor Program like the Blood Center to raise general awareness among Asian Pacific Islanders to register on the National Marrow Donor Program.

The Wells are visiting cities such as Seattle with large Asian communities to encourage participation in marrow drives. Members of the press interested in learning more about the Wells’ campaign or about marrow and stem cell donations should contact Puget Sound Blood Center.

“Due to the Wells’ outstanding efforts, thousands of individuals have been added to the NMDP Registry with the potential to impact thousands of lives internationally,” said Kim Allen, Bone Marrow Donor Program supervisor. “Because a successful match can come from anywhere in the world, it is important for the Asian community to participate in this upcoming marrow drive. Though we endeavor to find a match for Kailee, those who register at this drive may become a match for patients anywhere in the world who need a life-saving marrow transplant.”

The process of registering with the NMDP is simple. Potential donors complete a registration/screening form and donate a small blood sample.

Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing networking, educational, and teen mentorship opportunities for Asian American adoptees, is also helping to raise awareness about the drive.

“Being adopted, Kailee has no option for a family donor match,” said board member Teresa Betts. “AAAW is proud of our role in recruiting more Asian donors to the Registry to help Kailee and thousands of other patients needing a lifesaving donor.”

For additional information, please call Puget Sound Blood Center at 1-800-DONATE-1, x1897.

About The Puget Sound Blood Center
Celebrating 60 years in the community, the Blood Center is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine. The nonprofit Blood Center is the resource for patients in Western Washington who need blood, tissue and specialized laboratory services. Founded in 1944, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients’ lives. The Blood Center, which serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties with blood services, provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.