UCLA Alum-Aspiring Teacher Seeks Asian Bone Marrow Match

On Aug. 24, 2009, Janet Liang was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia while finishing her bachelor's degree in International Development Studies at UCLA.

Known as a loving and dedicated friend to many in college, Liang was a healthy, hardworking, and extremely passionate student who fell victim to this blood cancer at the age of 22. After being diagnosed, she received chemotherapy treatment at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, which helped achieve remission. However, a few weeks ago Liang found out that she relapsed.

Her younger brother and only sibling is not a match, and now Liang is faced with the task of searching for an unrelated marrow/blood cell donor in less than four months.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program, racial and ethnic heritage are very important factors in the donor process. Patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity.

With dreams of becoming a full-time teacher, Liang is deeply committed to addressing social justice issues in multicultural education and bridging the educational achievement gap transparent in today's schools. A natural humanitarian at heart she aspires to also work in relief efforts in the developing world.

Liang has always looked after others before thinking about herself, but now, she is in dire need of a donor match to help to save her life and other patients like her. 

“Please trust that I continue to fight each day to stay alive,” Liang said.

UCLA Alumni, Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) and Liang’s friends are working together to find a donor who could save her life.

Members of the Asian community are asked to participate in any of the following donor recruitment drives: 

• Sunday, Jan. 22 from 12:30pm to 2pm: Sunrise Christian Community Church, 36 W Bay State St., Alhambra, CA 91801
• Sunday, Jan. 22 from 10:30am to 2pm: Chinese Bible Church of San Diego- Main Campus, 12335 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
• Sunday, Jan. 22 from 10am to 2pm:  Chinese Bible Church of San Diego- West Campus, 5754 Ferber Street, San Diego, CA 92122-3810
• Sunday, March 18 from 11am to 2pm: Chinese Bible Missions Church, 200 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra, CA

- MarieSam Sanchez contributed to this report.