Tena Norman is 64 years old from Middleburg, Pennsylvania. She is wife to Scott and mother to Brooke and Aaron and daugher-in-law, Roxane. She is grandmother to Nash 17, Kenley 12, and Olivia 9. Tena adores her cat Teddy.

Tena is suffering from Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) resulting in macrocytic anemia and neutropenia. Tena presented to the hospital with fevers and was found to have a Hbg of 7.2.  On February 1, 2022 she underwent a bone marrow biopsy which showed MDS with likely progression to AML.  She started chemo at a local cancer center and traveled to John Hopkins in March to see a specialist. 

Unfortunately, the chemo stopped working and a repeat bone marrow biopsy showed the progression of the disease requiring a bone marrow transplant. 

Since diagnosis, Tena has been hospitalized for complications from her MDS and has had over 15 units of blood transfusions.

After diagnosis, Tena sold her flower shop which she owned for 28 years and retired. She graduated from West Snyder in 1978. She attends Beavertown Gods Missionary church. Tena enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with her family. T

To defeat MDS and recover her health, Tena needs a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow transplant from a donor who shares her tissue type. This tissue type is inherited from our parents, like hair and eye color, so the best chance of finding Tena's match is with someone who shares his genetic heritage.  

That’s where YOU come in! You could be Tena's lifesaving match without even knowing it.  All it takes is a simple swab of your cheek to find out if you are a match for Tena or another patient in need.  

How you can help

• Join the registry! Click on the blue "Join Registry" button above right. 
  • Healthy Donors Needed: Anyone in general good health between 18 and 35 years old may join the registry.
  • Medical Conditions: 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.
  • Younger Donors Needed: Eighty percent of donors requested by transplant centers are 18 to 35 years old for medical reasons – Click here to learn why age matters in transplant outcome.
  • Over 35: Donors 36 and older can also join, but we ask that you to please donate $60 to offset the lab fees – Click here to learn why.  
  • Over 60: Donors can remain in the registry until their 61st birthday – Click here to learn why the registry has an Age Limit.
• Run a Donor Recruitment Drive! One of the best ways to help Tena is to run a donor recruitment drive at your business, church, or in your community. Gift of Life will give you the training, materials, and support to get your drive organized and to publicize it.  What happens at a drive?  You set up a table where people can complete a swab kit and register to join Gift of Life. Every swab kit from a potential donor could be someone who saves a life!  Please contact Donor Recruitment Director Chris Camacho to get started, email: ccamacho@giftoflife.org, direct line: 561-982-2904.
• 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 Tena or another patient. 
• Spread the word. Please click the Share button above right to post Tena's story in your Facebook, Twitter, or What'sApp account. See the below for pre-sized social media post images you can download and share. The more people who order a swab kit and join the registry, the faster she will find a donor.