Coraopolis Business Owner Helping Sister Find Bone Marrow Match

Pittsburgh Man Hopes to Help Long-Lost Sister Find Bone Marrow Match:

Hosting Be The Match® Registration Drive Dec. 16 in Moon

Moon Township, PA – Christopher Myler knew he had a half-sister, but they had never met. A few years ago, he was beyond thrilled to locate his half-sibling, Cara McLaughlin, but their joyous reunion was marred by the dire news that she was seriously ill with a rare blood cancer.

Cara has undergone numerous treatments aimed at alleviating symptoms, but believes her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant, said Chris. His sister has been diligently petitioning her doctors to prescribe a transplant for the past year. Even though they’ve known each other only a short time, Chris is determined to help her fight the best fight she can, so Cara can be around a long time for her four children and two brothers.

To help raise awareness of the need for bone marrow registrants, Chris is holding a Be The Match® Donor Registry Drive on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at his business, Raion Zou Holistic Healing, 507 Mill Street, Coraopolis, PA, 15108.

“I could not imagine my life without her. She is a lovely person filled with light and energy and love. I can’t imagine her leaving behind her children that love her so dearly. That’s what really motivated me to do this for her,” he said.

Cara plans to travel from her home in Claremont, Georgia, to join her brother at the drive, even though her condition is fragile. “It’s medically dangerous, but she’s insisting on coming. I’m not going to stop her because I’m looking forward to visiting with her,” said Chris.

This is not Cara’s first battle with cancer, either; she survived uterine cancer and as a result could not have any more biological children, but welcomed her fourth child through adoption.

Chris has been a holistic practitioner for 10 years and recently opened the Coraopolis studio. The teachings he follows and offers are another reason he wants to help his sister and others.

“We’re trying to make this bone marrow drive as much of a big deal as possible, because it’s very near and dear to my heart, but also because of the tenets I believe and what I practice at my own personal business. We are giving people the chance to help others. If we can’t find a match for Cara, maybe we can find a match for someone else and prolong their life.”

Joining the marrow registry is done through a simple cheek swab that only takes a minute.

Santa and Mrs. Clause will be on hand for photos with drive registrants. Surrounding businesses are showing their solidarity and support by holding a #BeTheMatch flash sale the same day.

Be The Match® connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant, as well as provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant. Their Pittsburgh office is based in Green Tree. To be a bone marrow donor, people must be between the ages of 18-44, willing to help any patient in need, and be in general good health. For anyone who can’t make it to the Dec. 16 drive, there is an online registration option: https://join.bethematch.org/teamcara .