On January 26 and 27, a Bone Marrow Drive was held at the Pohakuloa Training Area by the Pohakuloa Fire Department. Military, DoD Civilians and civilian contractors all participated in this event. This drive was held to bring awareness of the many people in need of life-saving bone marrow, especially Sydney Davies, 12-year old niece of IAFF F-263 President Reid Shimabukuro. When the Pohakuloa Firefighters heard of Sydney's condition, they all felt the least they could do is to hold a Bone Marrow Drive that might help here or someone else in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Registering your bone marrow is an easy, painless process and is something that everyone should consider doing. Active duty military and their dependents, DoD Civilians, Reservists, National Guard and Coast Guard members who would like to hold their own Bone Marrow Drive, or might want to request a single test kit can send their request by email to the DoD Marrow Donor Program at recruitment@dodmarrow.com. You can also find them online at http://www.dodmarrow.org/index.htm. For all other civilians, go to the Be The Match Registry at http://marrow.org/Join/Join_the_Registry.aspx and fill out the registry form. They will send you a kit in the mail that includes swabs that you use to swab the inside of your cheeks. When you return the swabs they will add you to the registry that may help any patient in need.
Special thanks to Deputy Fire Chief Eric Moller, the Pohakuloa Firefighters and all the Pohakuloa Training Area base managers for all their support and for making this event possible. We all hope a matching donor will be found for Sydney soon and hope for the best for her and her family.
