To anyone who has been diagnosed with Leukemia or another Blood Cancer the most significant of gestures is made by that one person, who, one day, for simple reasons of solidarity and with a clear desire to help its fellow human being makes the unselfish and valiant decision to register in the Bank of stem cell donors.
María Mercedes's story is no different. It's the story of that person you could help save tomorrow. In her first year of fighting with this illness María Mercedes discovered, with much anguish, that no one in her immediate family circle was a compatible donor.
Unfortunately only about 25 to 30% of these patients find a compatible donor in their family. Her Husband, members of her immediate family, a dedicated group of friends and even strangers started a campaign in the city of Toronto to raise awareness within the Latin American community to find a possible donor, either for her or for anyone of the 800 or more Canadians currently living with the illness.
That is how the Save a Latin Life Group was formed. In this endeavour they had the valuable assistance of the Canadian Blood Services-One Match Donor Registration Program and with them managed to increase the number of Latin American potential donors significantly.
The story had a positive development. Eventually that hope of finding a suitable Bone Marrow donor came true thanks to the unselfish and valiant gesture made by a heroe that María Mercedes may never know for reasons of policy of the Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide Network, but to whom she will owe this new chance at life, that she will be able to see her beautiful children grow, that she will be an important part in the life of an adoring husband who suffered with her but with whom she will now share happy moments, their triumphs, the laughs? the love of a shared existence, not one truncated.
Like her many other patients await that "special someone", an unsung hero who could be you.
Register today!