Murray urgently needs a lifesaving peripheral blood stem cell donor – and it may be you!
Murray Foltyn, 41, is battling a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis that disrupts the normal production of blood cells. His doctors are urgently seeking a matching blood stem cell donor – a transplant is his best hope of a cure, but he does not currently have a match in his family or the worldwide registry.
Murray is married to Claudia (née Milunsky) and they have a 3-year-old son and a 9-month old baby girl. Murray and his family currently live in Sydney, Australia, and the search for his donor is going on internationally. We must find a matching donor for Murray so this lifesaving transplant can proceed.
Because tissue type factors needed for a match are inherited, Murray's best chance of finding his donor is among those of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. His known genetic heritage is from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
Donors who join the Gift of Life registry become part of a global network and can be called for any patient searching worldwide, including Murray.
Donating stem cells is a non-invasive, life-saving procedure done at a donation center. If you are a match for Murray, or another patient in need, you may have the option to donate stem cells at our beautiful collection center in South Florida. Stem cell collection is done at no cost to the donor.
How to help
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 Murray or another patient.
Spread the word. Use the gray "Share" button to the right to post Murray's story in your Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp accounts, or to copy the URL to share in email or other social media sites. The more people who order a swab kit and join the registry, the faster Murray will find a donor.
