Carver Boy Searching for Bone Marrow Match

You may have heard 15-year-old Shane McColgan's aunt on Michael and Maddie a few weeks ago.  Monica Cole told us about a Wareham hockey game against Old Rochester that was turned into a fundraiser to help Shane's family keep their heads above water as the boy fights a rare form of leukemia.  Needless to say, Shane's mother hasn't left his side, and the single mom's bills are piling up.

Even more important that a fundraiser, however, the Carver boy is searching for a match for a bone marrow transplant.  The need is immediate and urgent.  There will be a drive to find a bone marrow match donor coming up on March 9 from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Knights of Columbus Upper Hall in Pembroke.

People interested in testing to see if they might be a match for the 15-year-old are asked to show up and take a pain free cheek swab.  The swab will be analyzed for 6 basic HLA markers.

A patient’s doctor will usually choose several donors who appear to match the patient at a basic level. The doctor will ask that these donors have additional tests. These detailed tests will show which donor’s HLA most closely matches the patient’s HLA markers. These tests are usually blood tests or additional cheek swabs.

About 8% of members who complete additional testing will go on to donate. If a member is asked to donate, that means they are the closest HLA match to the patient – the best donor.

Find out more information about becoming a bone marrow donor by visiting BeTheMatch.org.