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Source: Facebook Group
UPDATED
Many may have heard of Nick Glasgow, Fremont, Calif. resident who is desperately searching for compatiable bone marrow for transplant. Due to his mixed heritage of 1/4 Japanese and 3/4 Caucasian, his chances of a match greatly decrease. The Internet and television is littered with pleas for individuals of Asian descent to check if there is a match. Most intriguing is the use of social media, namely Facebook, Twitter and blogs to cast a wide net.
A human face in the shape of Nick Glasgow is spread across the Internet to find much needed help in the Silicon Valley and around the world. With an aunt from Australia posting to the Facebook group dedicated the bone marrow search, she adds a broader reach and underlines the global reach of the Web.
According to the Asian American Donor Program based in Alameda, Calif., there are 7.4 million registered donors in the U.S. of which only 219,000 are of multiple races. Potential donors of ASian descent total 532,000 registered donors, which equals about 7.2 percent of the total.
Why ethnicity matters?
As with organ donation matching, close compatibility is critical. The highest likelihood to find a match for bone marrow and organ donation is first an identical twin, siblings, parents, relatives and then it's a similar ethnic background. It's a matter of genetics, though matches are often found from complete strangers.
For bone marrow, the donor needs compatible human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue. Found in most cells in your body, the immune system relies on these markers to recognize cells as belonging to the body. Although the key factor is partially up to chance to find a match, it is heavily dependent upon minimizing the possibility of rejection.
How to help
Check here to find a local bone marrow drive set up specifically to expediate testing for Nick Glasgow or get a kit from the Asian American Donor Program for a quick cheek swab. Before running to the local drive, you must be between the ages of 18-60 and be in relatively good health. The actual donation is unclear at this point. It could be a blood draw or a more complicated procedure, it will be determined with the most compatible match is found.
Currently Nick is at the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center helping to stuff donor kits, hoping for a match.
Close to my heart
The struggles of Nick Glasgow is too common for those in the San Francisco Bay Area and thousands across the country. According to Donate Life America, almost 100,000 men, women and children are currently waiting for various organs. My sister is one of the thousands as she needs a kidney. Please consider giving the thousands of people a second chance.
Essential facts on helping Nick Glasgow
Donate Life America (information on organ donation)
Comments
Nick We love you dearly and we will continue to pray for you with hopes that God will answer our prayers and find you a match
I love you son.
I have sent this info. to all my Asian American friends. I will also post on my myspace page. Good luck with finding a donor.
Love to Nick from Delaware :)
Nick...Man im so sorry, for you and your mother and you family and closes friends. We was literally like brothers at work and words cant even explain how and what i am feelin. I have prayed on it alot, and asked why, why you why now, even now im telln myself that this isnt fair to u and ur mother. I hope with all the help and support you guys are getting that they do find a match. I hope i get a chance to talk to u soon and u still have to see Riya..Damn this isnt fair..........
as a friend of yours for alot of years i want you to know my friends and i here in oregon have you and your mom in our prayers everyday stay strong like i know you will
Having received a bonemarrow transplant 1. 5 yrs ago form an unrelated donor, i understand the dire situation ytou are in! I do not know many Asian Americans, however I am contacted Csrnegie Mellon University where there is a strong diverse population of Asian heritage! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
Hey Nick,
I haven't heard from you since the last time you were on your way home a few weeks ago home from the hospital and I hope things are going as planned with the procedure. I pray for you everyday and wish only the best for you, your mother and family. I know God will get you through this Nick, and you will come out of this better then ever and have a wonderful long life. I hope to see and talk to you soon and please know that I love and care about you my dear friend. MUAH!
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