Lacey Horwitch
Lacey Horwitch Needs Your Help
WHY: Every year, more than 30,000 children and adults are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases for which a peripheral blood stem cell, cord blood or a bone marrow transplant could offer their only hope for a cure. Locally, Lacey Horwitch, an 8 year old Northbrook resident is fighting two rare and simultaneous conditions: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistocytis (HLH) & Resistance to Thyroid Hormone. HLH causes the body to attack its organs. Lacey has received her father’s bone marrow, which is only a 50% match. A perfect match already exists on the National Bone Marrow Registry but registry personnel cannot locate the individual because their contact information is out of date. Some cord blood was also a perfect match, but due to an infection, by the time Lacey was healthy enough to receive the cord blood, it had expired. A few years ago, a boy in Buffalo Grove had HLH. He received a bone marrow transplant and is alive and healthy today as a result.
WHAT: A Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Donation Registry sign up event. Media is encouraged to attend to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion on the National Bone Marrow Registry and of keeping one’s registry contact information current. Even if potential donors are not a blood or bone marrow match for Lacey, they could help others like her.
Blood Donors – All blood types are needed. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old. A 16 year old may donate with a signed parental consent form or a parent present. To make a blood donation: bring a photo ID, drink plenty of water the day before and up to donation and eat well.
Bone Marrow Registrants – Testing involves a simple cheek swab to be listed on the National Bone Marrow Registry. Applicants must be between the ages of 18-60 for bone marrow registration. In Lacey’s case, bone marrow donation would involve a non-invasive procedure in which an IV is used to take the bone marrow from the donor’s blood and transplant it into Lacey, much like with a blood transfusion. Many myths persist about bone marrow donation. However, donors typically return home the dame day they donate.
Appointments are encouraged versus walk-ins. Blood donation takes longer than bone marrow registration. The phone number to make appointments for blood donation or bone marrow registration is 877-543-3768. The phone number for donation specific questions (travel, medications, etc.) is 847-260-2647. For more info, visit www.marrow.org.
WHO: Congregation Beth Shalom and LifeSource are partnering for this important cause.
WHERE: Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters Ave., Northbrook, IL
WHEN: Sunday, January 15, 2012 from 8 A.M. To 1 P.M.
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