20 minutes can help save a life Published Oct. 6, 2011 By Capt. Richard Figueiredo 552nd Operations Support Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In 2006, I was diagnosed with advanced Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I endured several sessions of chemotherapy before going into remission. Fortunately, my brother, Navy Petty Officer First Class (Retired) Daniel Figueiredo was an eligible donor with a 100 percent match. I am a bone marrow recipient. This life changing experience reinforced my commitment to help in the fight against cancer. Now you have a chance to help. The Tinker Company Grade Officer Council with the help of the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program is hosting a bone marrow donor registration drive Oct. 11-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at locations across Tinker. The objectives are to help find a bone marrow donor match for a 5-year-old military dependent named Jason and a local Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient. Additionally, the drive seeks to increase awareness about bone marrow donations while simultaneously increasing the number of registered bone marrow donors with the National Marrow Donor Program. Jason is a military dependent who was born with Fanconi's Anemia, which leads to bone marrow failure, leukemia and other types of cancer. Jason's most critical hurdle will be the inevitable bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, no one in his family is a match. He will have to rely on someone's compassionate donation. This boisterous 5-year-old loves playing with cars, wrestling with his sister and still manages to keep a cheerful attitude despite his struggles. Maria is a resident of Oklahoma City who back in 2003 was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She fought her first battle with cancer and was soon in remission. After her experience, she started the first Spanish cancer support group in the state of Oklahoma. Recently the group celebrated its seventh anniversary, helping other cancer patients and survivors. Maria now needs help. She stayed in remission for eight years but relapsed last September. Now she faces an inevitable bone marrow transplant in the near future but has not yet found a match. By registering, potential donors can help Jason, Maria and many others like them. More than 70 life-threatening illnesses, including many types of cancer, can be treated with bone marrow transplants. A bone marrow transplant restores the body's immune system and ability to make healthy blood products. Volunteering to register in the NMDP program will bring Jason and Maria a step closer to finding a donor. Quick access to large numbers of accurately typed donors is the best way to give everyone suffering from cancer a fighting chance. More than six million Americans, including more than 400,000 service members, have registered as marrow donors. Whether you serve in the military or not, anyone between the ages of 18-60 in good general health can register. The eligibility health screening is less restrictive than donating blood. The process is painless and simple; sign a consent form, and provide an oral swab. In just 20 minutes you can register to save a life. The drives will be held at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ·Oct 11 at the 72nd Medical Group's Heritage Hall conference room. ·Oct 12 at the OC-ALC Bldg 3001 Oklahoma conference room. ·Oct 13 at the Tinker Base Exchange/Commissary complex. ·Oct 14 at the 552nd ACW Bldg. 282 Auditorium.