Drive will take place on Wednesday, April 4 from 11 AM to 4
Windham Hospital is teaming up with the National Marrow Donor Program to help give patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases hope. The Bone Marrow drive will take place in the Atrium at Windham Hospital on Wednesday, April 4 from 11 AM to 4 PM. Windham Hospital, a Hartford HealthCare (HHC) partner, is just one of several HHC partners (including Hartford Hospital, MidState Medical Center and Hospital of Central Connecticut) holding marrow drives throughout the month of April.
Seventy percent of patients awaiting a bone marrow transplant don’t have a donor in their family. The “Be the Match” program is a national registry, which for more than 20 years, has helped thousands of patients receive the transplants they need.
At the drive participants will be asked to complete a registration form with contact information, health history and a signed agreement to join the registry. They will then have their cheek swabbed so a tissue type can be determined. Registrants are asked to bring their insurance card, as most health insurance carriers will cover tissue typing and processing fees.
In order to join the registry, all participants must:
• Be between the ages of 18 and 60
• Be willing to donate to any patient in need
• Meet the health guidelines
• Keep contact information current with BeTheMatch.org
For more information, call Kate Starkey at Windham Hospital (860.456.6896) or visit www.hartfordhealthcare.org/bethematch.