SYLMAR : Marrow Donor Tests Planned for Children

Blood testing for marrow donors will be conducted Sunday in Sylmar, as doctors try to find matches for a critically ill 7-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl who has aplastic anemia.

Christopher Huerta of Santa Ana, who has leukemia, may have only six months to live, doctors said.

And until Alejandra Valencia of Los Angeles finds a matching marrow donor, she must undergo constant blood transfusions as she battles anemia.

On Sunday, American Red Cross officials are hoping for a strong showing of potential donors from members of Sylmar’s Latino community because the chances of finding a marrow donor are greater among the children’s ethnic group, officials said.

Latinos are underrepresented in the Red Cross’ National Marrow Donor Program, officials said, making up just 6.1% of the more than 1.4 million registered donors.

“The people benefiting mostly are Caucasian,” said Manuel Rivas, of the Red Cross’ blood and tissue services regional office. While 2,436 transplants have been facilitated for Caucasians since the marrow registry began, only 117 transplants have been able to be attempted for Latinos, Rivas said.

The chances of finding a marrow match for Christopher or Alejandra are nearly a million to one, Rivas said. But “the more people who register, the better the chances get,” he said.

Those who attend the drive will be asked to provide a small blood sample. Information taken then will be entered in the National Marrow Donor Program. If a match is found, donors must then make a decision to undergo an operation in which 2% to 4% of the donor’s marrow is extracted by needle from the donor’s pelvic bone. The donor is anesthetized during the procedure, officials said.

An overnight hospital stay is required, and donors usually experience some lower back soreness, but may immediately resume normal activities.

The blood test will be conducted by the American Red Cross Blood Services Marrow Donor Program from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1048 W. Ventura St.