San Angelo Teen in Need of Stem Cell Donor

SAN ANGELO, TX — Meet Carlie Jo Johnson, a recent Central High School graduate who is active in the PaulAnn Church youth group and often shares her beautiful voice as a soloist at church services.

This April, Carlie Jo was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia. Her dream of attending the pre-nursing program at Texas Tech this fall is now on hold as she undergoes intensive treatment.

The best chance for Carlie Jo to live lies with a blood stem cell transplant. Since she doesn’t have a perfect matching donor in her family, she’s relying on the kindness of a stranger. This is where you can make a difference.

Carlie Jo is looking for a stem cell donor, and an event is planned for Saturday, June 22, to find one. Signing up as a potential donor is free and takes just a few minutes. It includes learning about the process, filling out a form, and swabbing your cheeks. If you’re in good health and between the ages of 18 and 55, you could help Carlie Jo or someone else’s daughter, sister, or friend.

Friends of Carlie Jo Johnson are holding a blood stem cell donor drive:

• Saturday, June 22
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Central High School Cafeteria, 655 Caddo Street, San Angelo, TX 76901

Carlie Jo's plight was adopted by Olympic gold medalist Earl Young, who recruits stem cell and bone marrow donors and raises awareness of blood cancer across the nation. You can become a part of Earl Young's team and help Carlie Jo find her match. You just might be the one person who can save her life. For more about Carlie Jo, follow the event on Earl Young's Facebook page.