By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com
Leukemia survivor Lawrence Estaville had no idea the donor who helped save his life in August 2007 was sitting behind him during the National Marrow Donor Program presentation Wednesday.
“Wow,” Estaville, professor in the department of geography, continually repeated after the surprise guest was revealed. “This is incredible. He saved my life.”
Estaville was filled with emotion as he hugged Rick O’Neil from Massachusetts for the first time. Yvonne Ybarra of the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in San Antonio arranged the meeting.
Estaville asked O’Neil if he received a letter expressing his gratitude for the marrow donation. Estaville was surprised when the answer was “no.”
“It was the hardest letter I wrote in my whole life, and it was hard because I cried the whole time,” Estaville said. “I couldn’t put in words how much I love my donor — Rick O’Neil of Massachusetts.”
O’Neil said he is not normally an emotional person, but meeting the man who benefited from his donation evoked strong feelings.
“This is the closest I’ve come to crying since I was probably about five years old,” O’Neil said. “The only thing I can say is that I’m thankful I could help someone else.”
O’Neil decided to become a marrow donor after a family friend was diagnosed with Leukemia. O’Neil was not a match for that person, but he signed up for the National Marrow Donor Program hoping he could provide a match for someone else.
Guest speaker Dr. Jeffrey Chell, chief executive officer of the donor program, delivered a presentation focused around marrow donations.
This was part of a series of events taking place at Texas State throughout April, which was declared cancer awareness month in San Marcos this year. Chell said to be a compatible marrow donor, a person’s sixth chromosome must match with whoever needs the transplant. Chell said the process is more complex than finding a blood or organ donor.
Chell said there are more than 70 diseases that have marrow transplants as a treatment option, but only 40 percent of patients find the match they need. In his speech, Chell encouraged the audience to register for the program.
“When you donate marrow, two lives are changed,” Chell said, referring to the patient and the donor. “Donors tell me that it’s one of the greatest experiences of their lives.”
For the past three days, Texas State has hosted a marrow drive that has drawn 1,591 people to join the registry. Today is the last day to register on campus, and Estaville said the goal is to raise that number to 2,000. Donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and be in good health. Chell said minorities are especially encouraged to apply because it is more difficult to find matches for them.
Angelika Wahl, Cancer Awareness Month Committee board member, said there are tables set up throughout The Quad where people can register. Those who register can expect four cheek swabs, which is the first stage of screening.
Last year was the first time Texas State held the marrow drive, and 1,163 people registered. Estaville said two children have received transplants so far from Texas State students — an 8-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.
“That’s Texas State students saving lives,” he said. “Just that alone makes this worth it. There are children out there who need another chance at life.”
Wahl said 90 percent of people making it to the final stage of donation give marrow through stem cells. The process, she said, includes taking injections and getting blood drawn. The blood is returned to the donor after the stem cells are removed.
O’Neil said the procedure is painless.
“I encourage you to sign up for the list and if you’re called, donate … absolutely,” O’Neil said.
Estaville said the Cancer Awareness Month Committee strives to achieve two objectives.
“The whole idea is to make our community here, as well as Texas State, aware of cancer and the signs of cancer so that we can prevent it,” Estaville said. “Many cancers are preventable. Students are young and think they’re invincible. It’s about students. They can’t keep smoking. They can’t keep laying out.”
The second goal, he said, is “to reach out and help save people stricken with cancer.”
One way the committee hopes to raise awareness is through the largest student health fair Texas State has ever hosted. The event will take place Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom.
“There’s going to be tons of freebies,” said Ashlee Dozier, health education coordinator.
Different kinds of cancer screenings will take place at the event including oral, lung and skin. Dozier said door prizes will be given away every 15 minutes.
The event will make it possible for women to qualify for the first round injection of Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against the common
Human Papilloma Virus that can lead to cervical cancer. From there, appointments can be made at the Student Health Center to obtain the two remaining rounds of the vaccine at a discounted rate of $25 per injection.
“They found (Gardasil) to be safe and very important,” Dozier said.
The event will also promote fitness and nutrition, she said.
Chell said those who do not register for the marrow drive on campus can learn more about National Marrow Donor Program by visiting bethematch.org.
Estaville is thankful he was able to find a marrow match.
“God is great,” he said. “Life is beautiful.”
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