Letters to the Editor: Aug. 3, 2020

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You could be Jaden’s cure

Jaden lives in Hilo, just turned 18 and has been diagnosed with a blood cancer. He is in dire need of a bone marrow or blood stem transplant. You could be Jaden’s cure.

If you are between the ages of 18-44 you can register online and add your name to the Hawaii marrow donor registry. A sample kit is mailed to you, you touch one swab in your mouth and send it back. Your tissue type is registered for worldwide use until you reach age 61.

I registered in Flint, Michigan, in 2006. I got “the call” in 2010 here in Kona at age 60. My donation of stems cells was done at St. Francis in Honolulu. It was totally painless and easy and the stem cells were sent to the mainland where the patient was cured of caner. The BeTheMatchHawaii health care professionals at St. Francis are very good, very friendly and like family to all the donors and patients.

Every three minutes there is a new blood or bone cancer diagnosis on our planet. Every one should go to www.BeTheMatchHawaii.org, where all of your questions can be answered and most importantly you can get tested and registered. You have the opportunity to change the world and save a life. How could anybody refuse to offer the gift of life when you learn that you are a match?

Since 1990, Hawaii citizens have donated to 468 cancer patients worldwide: The U.S., Brazil, Korea, Japan, Italy, Poland, actually 28 countries so far, including eight patients in Hawaii.

Please check it out, sign up and spread the word to all of your family, friends, coworkers, classmates, etc. Jaden is counting on us and you may never be match for any cancer patient, but if you are a match you can literally give someone the gift of life. How cool is that?

Larry Boucher

Kailua-Kona

Letters policy

Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321, via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:

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West Hawaii Today

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Kailua-Kona, HI 96745