Southeast Area : Tissue Donor Sought for Young Leukemia Patient
The American Red Cross is searching for a bone marrow donor to help save a 15-year-old leukemia patient.
Hector Garcia, who was found to have the disease in 1988, does not have a relative with matching tissue, so an unrelated donor must be found, officials said.
A testing site will be set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Katherine Edwards Intermediate School, 6812 S. Norwalk Blvd., near Whittier. The patient is a former student at that school.
The initial test requires two tablespoons of blood. If there is a match, potential donors must undergo further tests.
Red Cross officials said the chance of finding a matching donor for Garcia is highest among Latinos. However, a donor could come from another ethnic group.
Garcia underwent chemotherapy for three years. His disease was in remission for seven months, but he is now critically ill, officials said.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.