Be the Match Donor Event: ABSN Students Share Their Personal Donor Stories
ABSN students Natalie Ziskin and Noel Magtoto personally know the connection of how being a donor can save the life of someone you love. Ziskin, secretary for the DUSON Student Council and coordinator for the "Be the Match" swab event, recently shared her connection during a information session held at DUSON.
"My best friend was diagnosed with leukemia in January of 2016," Ziskin said. " She received two bone marrow transplants after undergoing three rounds of chemotherapy. Her sister was a match and was able to be a donor. Unfortunately, we found out in July 2016 that the transplant didn't work."
Ziskin's friend had to undergo three more rounds of chemotherapy before a donation from a random donor found in the bone marrow donor registry saved her life. Thankfully, Ziskin's friend has been in remission since April 2017.
The importance of being a donor hits very close to home for Magtoto as well. He lived in the Philippines when his sister was diagnosed with leukemia. His family moved to the United States in order for his sister to receive treatment. He recalls spending most of his formative years after school visiting his sister in the hospital. Magtoto became a bone marrow donor and saved his sister's life.
Ziskin encourages everyone to join them on Wednesday, September 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the "Be the Match" swab event. Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to complete paperwork and cheek swabs to join the bone marrow donor registry. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 44, be in general good health, committed to donate to any patient they may match with in the future. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to join the donor registry.
"I am incredibly passionate about this event because I want to give someone the same gift of finding a donor that this person gave my friend and me," said Ziskin. "It is my goal to increase awareness and the number of people in the registry, and subsequently, increase the number of matches made for patients who need bone marrow transplants. I encourage everyone to come out and participate to give the gift of life to those in need!"