Our organization started after the devastating lost of our friends, 3-year old son, Jaden Hilton (photo enclosed in presentation). Jaden was diagnosed with leukemia in April of 2006, in which he needed a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately for Jaden, his parents and his brother were not a match, nor was anyone in his family. We needed to find Jaden an unrelated donor. In 2006, African-Americans only represented 4% of the registry. Presently, Hispanics represent 9%, African-Americans represent 8%, Asians represent 7%, while Caucasians represent more than 70% of the NMDP/Be The Match Registry. Because we could not find him a match, Jaden lost his battle to leukemia on January 29, 2007. After his death, we made it our life's mission to educate minority about the benefits of stem cells and treatment options they provide through peripheral blood stem cells, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donation. We have also established legislation in New Jersey. It is New Jersey Bill A2168/S2038- Jaden's Law. Our bill has also been introduced by Assemblyman Keith L. Wright in New York in July 2010. It is New York A11610- Jaden's Law. Our goal is to have NYA11610-Jaden's Law passed in 2011, considering that the sessions ended the day of our bills introduction. We are also in the works with Congressman Charles Rangel to establish throughout the nation, Jaden's Law, as a federal bill. I have enclosed a presentation about Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. We are also launching the P.O.L. Umbilical cord blood program at Harlem Hospital OB/GYN Clinic in September 2010, which is led by Dr. Edgar Mandeville, Director of OB/GYN. This program will increase umbilical cord blood donation within the minority community, ultimately, increase the percentages in the National Registry.
Shannon is only 11 years old and she is fighting for her life. She was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and needs a marrow transplant from a 100% Match in order to survive.
Unfortunately, Shannon and many other patients like her are still searching for their life saving matches. Shannon has the best chance of finding a match within her Dominican and African American heritage.
You can also register online: http://join.marrow.org/Shannon or they can go to BeTheMatch.org and use Promo Code: Shannon
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