Alan Hahn of NEWSDAY gives us all some work to do. Hahn introduces to a 6-year-old Jasmina, who recently befriend New York Knick Chris Wilcox. As you can see, she’s a beautiful little girl, but sadly she has leukemia.
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She has a rare and agressive form of it, which was diagnosed on Jan. 20. Her doctors say she needs a bone marrow transplant now or Jasmina will die.
Wilcox: “I have a sister who suffers from Lupus so, unfortunately, she is in and out of the hospital and has undergone chemotherapy. I just can’t bear to see a six year old who literally could die if we don’t find her a match soon.”
So what needs to be done? And what can we all do?
Jasmina needs a bone marrow transplant, but does not have any full siblings, who more than likely would’ve provided a perfect match.
That’s where you and I come in.
Wilcox is in a desperate search to help Jasmina find a donor for the blood cells she needs to ward off her insidious disease, so he is holding a Bone Marrow Donor Drive, run by DKMS Americas this Saturday (March 7) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at PS 41 on 116 West 11th Street in Manhattan.
If you can’t make it to the donor search event, you can also go to Jasmina’s own website to find out if you would be a perfect match for Jasmina. Or maybe someone else like her.
Here’s the donation process:
“There are two ways to donate. Seventy-to-eighty percent of the time, stem cells are collected from the donors’ blood, similar to donating plasma. Twenty-to-thirty percent of the time bone marrow is withdrawn from the hip (not spine) using a special syringe. It is an out-patient procedure done with local or general anesthesia.”
Very, very simple and easy.
So go to Jasmina’s site and see if you’re in a position to help.
Thanks, guys.
8:10 pm on March 4th, 2009
No fair - pulling on the heartstrings like that near the end of the day. I hope she gets her transplant. Good luck. Jasmina!
8:13 pm on March 4th, 2009
She is a real cutie. Reminds me of my niece. I'm hoping & praying for her!
8:14 pm on March 4th, 2009
If they haven't already, the Knicks really should treat Jasmina to a game - courtside seats, autographed jerseys, meet the team, the whole nine yards.
8:17 pm on March 4th, 2009
It's horrible any time someone is stricken with leukemia. It's even worse when it strikes such a young & beautiful child. I hope & pray that she makes it.
8:19 pm on March 4th, 2009
If they can organize a Coaches Vs. Cancer tournament, why not a Jasmina Vs. Cancer benefit?
8:23 pm on March 4th, 2009
I just watched the video over on Jasmina's web site, and now I have something in my eye.
8:37 pm on March 4th, 2009
IPM:
Making Jasmina watch the Knicks? Isn't that a bit cruel?
But seriously, I really hope she finds a donor.
8:43 pm on March 4th, 2009
Poor kid. This is someone the whole NBA should get around & support.
8:59 pm on March 4th, 2009
I really wish Jasmina will be able to see 7.
7:38 am on March 5th, 2009
It's nice to see a pro athlete use his celebrity for something like this. I wish all others in every sport would learn a thing or two from Mr. Wilcox.
12:07 pm on March 5th, 2009
Hi everybody,
Registering if you are eligible is very important, so is spreading the word so people can learn why they are needed and how to register.
Anyone could be Jasmina's match, but her match is most likely going to be the same or a similar ethnicity to her. This means that the underrepresentation of people of African descent is going to seriously reduce her chances if we do not get involved.
Also it is amazing to see this type of support, because men are not registering at a rate even close to women, but male donors are called upon more for a number of reasons, including that women cannot donate while or right after they are pregnant, or if they even think they are pregnant.
Even if you don't match Jasmina (I hope someone does), you can still match someone who needs it just as much as she does.
2:05 am on March 6th, 2009
Its heart warming to see all those that posted that their thoughts and prayers are for Jasmina, however those are just that, nice words. How many will actually do something about this?
Put your money where your mouth is. If not just for Jasmina, for the thousands of children like her. I did.