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Bone marrow drive could save life of ailing vet, grandfather

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Born and raised in Hoboken, Ken Dyson has lived in Rutherford nearly 35 years, fought in Vietnam and suffered a heart attack that required the insertion of five stents. He also could be dead in a few weeks if he doesn’t get a bone marrow transplant. The grandfather of three precious girls needs our help NOW.

Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Jerry DeMarco
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Dyson with granddaughters: 6, 4 years old, 9 months

“The doctors said without a bone marrow transplant we could lose our father in a few weeks,” Kenny Dyson, 41, told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

“We are hoping and praying to find a bone marrow match to save our father’s life.”

You may be the person the Dyson family is desperately seeking.

The way to find out is to attend a Bone Marrow Drive tomorrow in Hackensack and get swabbed. It’s super-quick and easy — and could save Ken Dyson’s life.

WHAT:  Ken Dyson Blood Marrow Drive
WHEN: 11 am – 5 pm Saturday, July 16
WHERE: Bergen County Courthouse parking lot, 10 Main Street, Hackensack

Those unable to make it can call Kenny Dyson at: 862-223-9780

His dad, 62, a former trucker driver for 30 years, suffered a suffered his heart attack in 1994. In 2007, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer that is now in remission, thanks to Hackensack University Medical Center.

Two years later, he was diagnosed with MDS leukemia. Since then, he has spent endless days in the hospital receiving blood transfusions.

Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, Dyson began having extreme abdominal pain over the Fourth of July weekend. Two days later, doctors at HUMC told the family his leukemia progressed to AML.

“We want our little girls to have their grandfather as a part of their lives. They have so many years of wonderful memories ahead of them,” Kenny Dyson said, speaking on behalf of himself and his sister, Genesa, 33. “Please help us save their ‘papa’ so he can be there to watch them grow up.”

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE:

With over 2.7 million potential donors worldwide, DKMS (from the German for Bone Marrow Donor Center) is the largest organization of its kind in the world. Even so, 6 out of 10 patients never receive the lifesaving transplant they need.

YOU are important as a bone marrow donor because every new donor increases the chance that a patient will find the lifesaving match they need. The donor and patient must have at least 8 out of 10 tissue characteristics in common. With more than 4,000 known characteristics that can occur in millions of combinations, finding a match is extremely difficult.

This is why every new donor counts!

How do I register as a bone marrow donor?

You must be 18 to 55 years old, in good general health, weigh at least 110 pounds, but not exceed a body mass index of 40, and be willing to donate to any patient in need. If you meet these requirements, you will be asked to complete a registration form and swab the inside of your cheeks to collect cells for HLA tissue typing.

What is my commitment?

Your information will be listed anonymously on the Be The Match Registry® (operated by the NMDP) until your 61st birthday. You must be willing to consider donating to any patient who needs you. You must keep your contact information updated in the DKMS database at all times.

What is the donation process like?

If you are a match for a patient, a DKMS representative will contact you. You will fill out a health questionnaire, and if all is well, undergo additional testing. If you are found to be the best possible donor, you will donate in one 1 of 2 ways. Cells are collected from either your bloodstream or the back of your pelvic bone. The donation method is determined by the patient’s doctor.

1. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation

  • Cells are collected via the donor’s bloodstream.
  • To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, the donor receives daily injections of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for 4 days before, and on the day of the collection.
  • During the collection, blood is removed with a sterile needle from one arm, and passed through a machine that separates out the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm.
  • The cell collection is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that takes about 4-6 hours on 1-2 consecutive days.
  • While taking filgrastim many donors experience flu-like symptoms, such as headaches bone and muscle achiness and fatigue. Most side effects subside within 48 hours of donating.


2. Bone Marrow Donation

  • Marrow cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone (not the spine) using a special syringe.
  • Donors receive general anesthesia so no pain is experienced during the marrow extraction.
  • This is a 1-2 hour, outpatient surgical procedure. Most donors are discharged from the hospital at the end of the day.
  • Many donors experience some pain, bruising, and stiffness for up to two weeks after their donation. Within a week of donating, most donors are able to return to work school and most regular activities. The donor’s marrow completely replenishes within a few weeks.


More Ways You Can Help:

  • Help us finance the $65* donor registration cost. Make a monetary donation at www.GetSwabbed.org.
  • Organize a donor drive in your community, or at your office or school.
  • Encourage friends and family to register with DKMS at a drive, or online at www.GetSwabbed.org.
  • Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Search “DKMS Americas” to find our page.
  • Fundraise for DKMS. Set up a fundraising page at FirstGiving.com/DKMS.


*DKMS never requires new donors to pay the registration costs. This is why we urgently need monetary donations to further expand the DKMS donor database. 100% of every financial contribution is used to register new, potential donors. DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization.



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