During African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month, reporter Jackie Jones shares Jonathan Nazeer’s marrow donation experience with readers to help dispel myths about the donation process. Jones also profiles a searching patient, Imani Cornelius, and the need for more people to join the registry.

Imani Cornelius, an 11-year-old diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, is looking for a match for a marrow transplant. It has been difficult for Imani to find a match because she is biracial. Imani said she would tell people to sign up for the registry because there are a lot of children who need it and registering could save lives.

Only 7 percent of donors listed on the Be The Match Registry of potential marrow donors are black Americans. African-Americans, other minorities and biracial patients have a difficult time finding a marrow donor. That’s why July has been designated by Congress as African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month to encourage more people to join the registry at drives hosted by Be The Match across the country.

www.blackamericaweb.com