Four-year old Kyle Needs a Chinese-Caucasian Bone Marrow Donor

 How can you resist a face like this?

Most preschoolers want Thomas trains or Polly Pocket dolls for Christmas, but one Bay Area preschooler needs a much more important gift this holiday. And it’s a gift you might be able to give. Four-year old Kyle Crawford is in serious need of a bone marrow donor — and his best chances for a match would be from someone who is Chinese and Caucasian Hapa, like himself.

Kyle was recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia and is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. He is adorable and reminds me of my own little guys. His description on the Asian American Donor Program website reads:

My name is Kyle and I am four years old. My favorite things in the whole world are fish and sharks and whales. Maybe one day I will get to swim next to a great white shark! My favorite game is Angry Birds, and I am really good at it. I love super heroes, too!  And I love my baby sister, who is only eleven months old. My parents always tell me my birthday is a really lucky day because I was born on 7/7/07.
I hope you will help AADP and me to find someone who will be my lucky match!

I know many of my readers are in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I hope you will try to make time in your busy schedules to get tested at one of two upcoming drives in San Mateo and San Francisco. Both events are after the holidays. Testing takes only a few minutes and a swab of your cheek.

San Mateo

Saturday, January 7, 2012
1am – 2pm
Serendipity School
3172 Clearview Way, San Mateo, CA 94402

San Francisco

Saturday, January 14, 2012
12pm – 3pm
Haight Ashbury Free Clinics
558 Clayton Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

 

And if you happen to be outside of the Bay Area and would like to get tested for the registry, they can email Mixed Marrow (an all-volunteer group dedicated to raising awareness of the need for mixed-race bone marrow donors)  for a FREE testing kit by sending us their name and mailing address to donor@mixedmarrow.org .

Joining the bone marrow registry is a great way to make a meaningful difference this holiday season. I know Kyle’s family is very grateful for all the help and support they can get!