Blood Screening Set for Cancer Patient
In a last-ditch effort to save the life of Joe Haskin, friends and family will hold a blood drive to help the father of four locate a suitable bone marrow donor.
The donated blood, which will be screened to check for marrow compatibility, also will be used to offset the cost of providing the bone marrow tests during the six-hour event. The blood drive begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Jude Catholic Church, 32032 W. Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village.
The 44-year-old was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma several years ago, and all medical treatments since have been unable to stem the spread of his cancer.
While the odds of finding a suitable donor are estimated at 1 in 100,000, doctors feel a marrow transplant could be the key to his recovery.
This event follows a number of other bone marrow donation drives held recently in eastern Ventura County.
More than 400 people recently participated in a bone marrow screening for 15-year-old Valerie Sun, who has a rare blood disease called aplastic anemia.
A similar screening was held for 3-year-old Steven Koss of Thousand Oaks who also has aplastic anemia.
For information on how to participate in the blood drive for Haskin, call Maura Barraza at (805) 374-1933.
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