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Hope for Kai: A Bone Marrow Donor Drive

Friday, May 22, 2009

Just before his 5th birthday, little Kai Anderson of Manhattan was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. To add to this family's suffering, his father, David, was diagnosed with incurable lymphoma a year ago. See their beautiful family at left.

Sarah Colwell, a mom in Montclair, has taken up their cause. Colwell, formerly of New York City, knows Kai's mom, Birgit, from a mother's group. She told me she helps because "Kai could be any one of our children, and Birgit could be any one of us."

It's heartbreaking to even contemplate Kai's situation, but there is a way we all can help...

Colwell is organizing several bone marrow donor drives, including one in Montclair at the Little Y. She emphasizes that it's easy for us all to go and to try to save a life. Kai's only hope for survival is to get a bone marrow transplant within three months, but he has to find a match.

Colwell want us all to join the registry. All it takes to get on the bone marrow donor registery is a simple cheek swab, just 10 minutes of our time. If it turns out you're a match, the process involves straightforward out-patient procedures, read more at Kai's website.

"One of us really could save a life," Colwell said.

Here's how: Just donate at the drive and/or volunteer to help.

Hope for Kai: Bone Marrow Donor Drive
Who: Anyone over 18
What: A cheek swab to help save lives
Where: Little Y
159 Glenridge Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042
When: Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To volunteer, email Sarah Colwell and spread the word. Tell everyone you know about this family--there are many families suffering right now like Kai's. Find out about her other drives on the Hope for Kai website.