Blood Drive for Mateo

This Saturday is a very cool opportunity for all of us.  Many of you are aware that our friend, Christian Coka, has a little brother named Mateo who has leukemia.  Mateo is only ten-years-old and this is his second bout with leukemia.

Fortunately, the family has found a match for a bone marrow donor and in a few weeks Mateo will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant to hopefully cure this little boy.  Christian works for Banana Republic at the Altamonte Mall and this Saturday they are sponsoring a blood drive and bone marrow testing in honor of Mateo.  The bone marrow testing is being done so that maybe someday you can save somebody’s life the way an anonymous stranger is saving Mateo’s by having the record of his or her bone marrow on file.

My first thought was how painful the testing was going to be out of pure ignorance.  I found out that the testing is simply a cotton swab collecting saliva in your mouth and that’s it.

So, come give blood and get your marrow tested this Saturday to help save lives.  The blood mobile is being set up in the Dillard’s parking lot at the Altamonte Mall from 12-5 this Saturday, August 30th.  I’ll be there at some point to give blood and be tested.  I hope you’ll join me for this very important cause!

RD