Why Google Rissa Watkins Leukemia?

I woke up to find a video from fellow writer Rissa Watkins today, saying neither of her siblings is a viable match for her stem cell transplant. Rissa is a young wife and mother who was recently diagnosed with Philadelphia-positive Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL.) This means that, like some 70% of all people who need stem cell transplants, Rissa will have to rely on a match with an anonymous donor somewhere in the world.

Experts say the best chance for a donor match are found with people who have the same racial background. Unfortunately, racial minorities and people of mixed ethnic heritage are underrepresented in bone marrow registries. Rissa is just one of 160,000 people worldwide who need a bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplant. She is also one of the mixed heritage people, who will be more difficult to match with a potential donor.

Could you be that match?

If you would like to learn more about becoming a donor, you can find your local bone marrow registry by going to the Heal Emru bone marrow registry page. They have contact information for Be The Match in the USA - as well as for agencies in Canada, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. Agencies worldwide cooperate with one another, so you could be just about anywhere and still be able to help Rissa or someone like her.

Other Ways to Help Rissa Fight Leukemia:

1. Take some time to read Rissa's articles on the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Like all Y!CN contributors, Rissa gets paid royalties for everyone who reads her work. The more you read, the more you can help. And it doesn't cost anything but a few minutes of your time to read a quality piece about a topic of interest to you! Share the links on Facebook or Twitter, if you know others who would enjoy Rissa's articles.
2. Make a donation to help pay for Rissa's medical bills. Check out Rissa's GiveForward page, where you can make a secure online donation.
3. Buy stuff! A number of other writers have created fundraising items such as t-shirts, and others have pledged donations based on the sales of existing merchandise. Check the entry by my friend Lyn Lomasi at Life... Successfully for all the details on where to get t-shirts or books and help Rissa at the same time.
4. Share this information with others, and Google "Rissa Watkins leukemia" to keep up to date on news about Rissa's battle. Watch videos, read blog entries, and please share your comments so we all know you're out there pulling for Rissa too! Prayers, positive thoughts and good vibes are most welcome. Please keep Rissa and her loved ones close to your hearts.
5. This last link is especially for those of you who are struggling right now. Maybe you are a freelancer trying to make ends meet every payday, or maybe you or someone close to you is fighting just like Rissa. If you ever feel like you can't go one step further, read "Rissa Watkins and Defining Success," by Lucinda Gunnin. I hope it will inspire you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going.

You keep up the fight, Rissa! I know this last round of chemo was tough, but you're tougher still. And you have all of us fighting for you too. You are going to win this battle, never doubt it!

"Why Google Rissa Watkins Leukemia?" by Kyla Matton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.

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