San Angelo Teen in Need of Stem Cell Donor

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – A blood stem cell donor drive will be held to find a donor for an 18-year-old recent graduate of Central High School who was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia in April.

The 18-year-old is Carlie Jo, and she is receiving support from "Earl Young’s Team," a Dallas-based nonprofit that is collaborating with the San Angelo community, including Carlie Jo’s family and friends, to organize the event. 

The drive aims to find a matching donor for Carlie Jo and others battling blood cancer. Carlie Jo is an active member of the PaulAnn Youth Group and a frequent soloist at her church. She plans to attend the prenursing program at Texas Tech after intensive treatment.

A blood stem cell transplant is her best chance to continue her plans and achieve a "regular" college life. However, she does not have a perfectly matching donor within her family and must rely on a stranger for a life-saving transplant.

The donor drive is open to individuals aged 18-55 in good health and will take place at Central High School’s cafeteria, located at 655 Caddo Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 22. 

The registration process is free and quick. It involves learning about the donation process, reviewing medical eligibility, filling out a form, and swabbing the inside of the cheeks.

Currently, only 2% of Americans are registered as potential donors, resulting in only 40% of patients finding a match. Seventy percent of patients with blood-related cancers and diseases rely on unrelated donors for a second chance at life.

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 information, visit www.EarlYoungsTeam.org

Carlie Jo

Carlie Jo

Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily

The LIVE! Daily is the "newspaper to your email" for San Angelo. Each content-packed edition has weather, the popular Top of the Email opinion and rumor mill column, news around the state of Texas, news around west Texas, the latest news stories from San Angelo LIVE!, events, and the most recent obituaries. The bottom of the email contains the most recent rants and comments. The LIVE! daily is emailed 5 days per week. On Sundays, subscribers receive the West Texas Real Estate LIVE! email.

Required

Most Recent Videos

Post a comment to this article here: