Sheriff’s Sergeant Finds Marrow Donor

After a widely publicized effort to save her life, Sylvia Smith, an East Los Angeles sheriff’s sergeant suffering from leukemia, said Friday she has found a bone marrow donor.

“It was a miracle come true,” a teary-eyed Smith said at a press conference at the sheriff’s headquarters in Monterey Park. “My doctor told me yesterday. I thank everyone who helped for giving me the gift of life.”

Beginning in October, the Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department organized 30 blood drives, and more than 9,000 people were tested to find a match, Sheriff Sherman Block said. The drives were held for Smith and LAPD Officer Diane Alonzo, who has received a successful transplant.

At the press conference, Block introduced Mario Molina, a 3 year-old leukemia victim. A donor drive for Mario will take place today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hollenbeck Youth Center at 2015 E. 1st Street in Boyle Heights.

Smith, an 18-year veteran of the force, said she faced overwhelming odds because she is Latina and a low percentage of Latinos volunteer to be tested as potential donors. Latinos make up about 6% of the list of 2.5 million on the national registry, according to the National Bone Marrow Program.