Are you Rose’s lifesaving match?  Order your swab kit and find out if you are her hero! 

Rose is a 47-year-old wife and mom of three girls ages 18, 16, 13, and has a fulfilling career as a Physician Assistant. But on December 23, 2020, Rose went to the emergency room to be tested for tonsillitis. There she received the worst possible news – she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and immediately transferred to the oncology department, given a bone marrow biopsy, and started on chemotherapy. 

To defeat AML and recover her health, Rose needs a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow transplant from a donor who shares her same tissue type. Sadly, none of Rose’s siblings are a close enough match to donate – about 70% of patients do not have a match within their family. And like 75% of Black blood cancer patients, Rose does not currently have a viable match in the worldwide registry. 

That’s where you come in! You could be Rose’s lifesaving hero without even knowing it. All it takes is a swab of your cheek to find out if you are a match for Rose or another patient in need. Rose’s best chance of a match is with someone who shares her genetic heritage.

If you are of African or Haitian ancestry, please join the registry today.  

Our goal is to help her beat this diagnosis and get her back to living. Being there for her three daughters means everything to her. They are phenomenal young ladies who are excelling in their academics despite the pandemic and attending school virtually, with all three earning the principal award. Let’s make sure this beautiful family has an incredible future together.

More about Rose

Rose’s husband and biggest cheerleader, TJ, has been by her side throughout this entire journey. Rose is a proud alumna of Florida State University, Go Noles!  

Rose works in health care, serving as a Physician Assistant for the past 21 years, and 15 years ago chose to specialize in wound care. “I chose a career in healthcare to give back to my community and to help others,” said Rose. “I love my job. I find healing wounds and improving patients’ quality of life enormously rewarding.” Her patients live in skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes and hospices) in and around her neighborhood, putting her on the front lines when COVID-19 hit. But chemotherapy makes her immunocompromised, so Rose currently cannot work in the healthcare setting. Complete re-immunization will take up to a year after receiving the bone marrow transplant.

Details about joining the registry:

• Join the registry! Click on the blue "Join Registry" button. 
  • Donors in general good health between 18 and 35 years old may join the registry. Donors over the age of 35 can also join, but we ask that you to please donate $60 to offset the lab fees – Click here to learn why.  
  • Eighty percent of donors requested by transplant centers are 18 to 35 years old for medical reasons – Click here to learn why Age Matters.
  • Donors can remain in the registry until their 61st birthday – Click here to learn why the registry has an Age Limit.
  • Certain medical conditions may mean you are not able to join the registry or donate – Click here to check the Conditions List. If you're not sure, a health history questionnaire is part of the registration process.
• Sponsor a swab kit. Click on the orange "Give to My Circle" button. Lab processing of every kit costs $60. Your contribution will help add new donors to the registry, who may be a match for Rose or another patient. 
• Spread the word. Use the social media links to the right to share Rose's story in your Facebook and Twitter account. The more people who order a swab kit and join the registry, the faster Rose will find a donor.