Crisco, Doyle co-host bone marrow drive at Capitol

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, and state Sen. Paul Doyle, D-Wethersfield, joined advocates at the state Capitol Tuesday to help kick off a Marrow Donor Registry Drive sponsored by Be The Match^®.

“There is a lot of misinformation tossed around regarding marrow donation, and today is an opportunity to get the facts out there,” Crisco said. “The importance of marrow donation cannot be understated. Every four minutes a baby, child, or adult is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukemia. For the many that do not have a matching marrow donor in their family, the Be The Match Registry^® is a lifesaving resource.”

“Seventy percent of patients receive bone marrow from a complete stranger,” said Doyle. “With advancements in technology the process has become less time consuming and painless. Today is about connecting those in need with potential donors. There are a lot of misconceptions about donating bone marrow and events like this are able to provide clarity.”

Be The Match^® connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. Those wishing to help the cause can be someone’s cure as a member of the Be The Match Registry^®, or be a financial contributor or volunteer. Be The Match^® provides patients and their families with one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.

Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program and for 25 years has managed the largest marrow registry in the world.

The senators were joined at the event by Jon DeCasanova, a student at Eastern Connecticut State University who shared his story of finding a donor match and receiving a bone marrow transplant.

Marrow donation can be done in one of two ways. The first option, a peripheral blood stem cell donation, consists of cells gathered using a non-surgical, outpatient procedure. 
The second option, marrow donation, is a surgical, usually outpatient, procedure using anesthesia.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Team Anthony gathers at bone marrow drive in Stratford

Members of Team Anthony pose at a bone marrow drive in December in Stratford. The group also worked at a bone marrow drive Saturday at Hilltop Hose Company 5 firehouse in Ansonia to benefit former Ansonia resident Anthony Mabery, 10. He has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia since he was 2. Anthony's aunt, Team Anthony organizer Shantana Hazel of Bridgeport, is pictured second from left. / Contributed photo

Reminder: bone marrow drive is today in Ansonia

Anthony Mabery

ANSONIA - Hilltop Hose Company 5 volunteer firefighters will hold a bone marrow drive from 1 to 4 p.m. today at the firehouse, 80 Pulaski Highway.

The drive will benefit anyone who needs a bone marrow transplant, including former Ansonia resident Anthony Mabery, 10.
He is the grandson of Hilltop Hose past captain Tim Holman.

Anthony is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was hospitalized earlier this month but Holman said Friday his grandson was able to go home for Christmas.

Ansonia volunteer firefighters seek to help boy fighting leukemia

Save the date: Bone marrow drive slated Dec. 28

By Patricia Villers, New Haven Register Posted: 12/20/13, 12:46 PM EST | Updated: 37 secs ago

ANSONIA >> Former Ansonia resident Anthony Mabery, 10, who now lives in Greenville, N.C., has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia since February 2006.

On Dec. 28, members of Hilltop Hose Company 5 will hold a bone marrow drive from 1 to 4 p.m. at the firehouse, 80 Pulaski Highway.

The drive is not only for Anthony but also for anyone in need of a bone marrow transplant, said Hilltop Hose Company past Capt. Tim Holman, Anthony’s grandfather.

Holman said a recent bone marrow drive held in Bridgeport drew about 100 possible donors, and he hopes even more people will show up on Dec. 28 for the drive. “It’s really simple (to register),” Holman said. “They swab your mouth. It takes two minutes.”

Holman said his grandson remains upbeat despite all the medical problems he faces. “One thing remains constant, his faith and optimism,” Holman said. “There’s no cure, but there’s hope.”
Anthony was admitted into a hospital in North Carolina Tuesday (Dec. 17), said his aunt, Shantana Hazel of Bridgeport.

Hazel is the sister of Starneisha Maye, Anthony’s mother, who is formerly of Ansonia and Bridgeport. Hazel spoke to Anthony Tuesday, and she said he sounded confident he would not be staying in the hospital for long.
She said she and Anthony have a special bond because she suffers from several medical problems including endometriosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

 “He’s a chill, laid-back kid, brighter than the average 10 year old,” Hazel said. “He knows everything about the medication he takes. He smiles through it all.”

Hazel is the founder of Sister-Girl Foundation. The organization focuses on helping women facing medical issues ranging from endometriosis to gynecological cancers, she said. “The joy in my life comes from having this foundation,” Hazel said.

 Sister-Girl is one of the sponsors of the bone marrow drive, along with Delete Blood Cancer and the Positive Men’s Organization in Ansonia. Holman is president of the men’s club. Monetary donations will also be accepted at the Dec. 28 drive, Hazel said.

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