Bone Marrow Registry Could Help Fair Haven Teen Find Donor

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — A drive is on for people to donate a simple swab to a bone marrow registry in hopes of finding a donor match for a Fair Haven teen diagnosed with leukemia.

"Help Emmy" is the title of the flyer and it is spreading the word about the registry, said a friend of the family, Jen Harvey, who is also a Fair Haven resident.

Go to https://my.bethematch.org/emmystrongnj for information on how to become part of the registry.

Harvey said the teen was diagnosed in early December with AML leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made), but most often it quickly moves into the blood, as well, the website notes.

Harvey is a friend of the Freund family, and she is trying to help spread the word.

The flyer says the teen "needs a bone marrow transplant ASAP."

Emmy is a freshman at Rumson-Fair Haven High School and plays volleyball, sings with a group and also studied dance.

She said there are guidelines for donating the swab sample.

People who register need to:

• Be 18 to 40 years old.
• Meet health guidelines.
• Be willing to donate to any patient in need. (Meaning that they will be put in the national database and could be called for a future match).

Harvey said there are some facts to know:

• Only 1 in 220 will come up as a match.
• Donating blood stem cells or marrow is 100 percent free and if you are a match, Be the Match pays all expenses.
• 85 percent of donations are done by peripheral blood stem cell.
• Donor confidentiality is strictly protected.

Once registered, participants will be mailed a bone marrow screening kit. They can just swab the inside of the cheek and mail it back at no cost.

Use the link or text EMMYSTRONGNJ TO 61474 to receive a kit. The flyers also have a QR code you can scan.

Harvey, the friend of Emmy's mother Lori Freund since 2016, said family and friends are trying to raise awareness because of the age limits of donors.

"Most of the people I know are completely aged out of this or their kids are too young," Harvey said. So she is hoping to get wider participation.