HomeCity News3-Year-Old Needs A Bone Marrow Donor

3-Year-Old Needs A Bone Marrow Donor

Susy Powert is 3 years old, battling cancer and needs your help. It’s as simple as that.

The daughter of Jason Powert, Carver Elementary School’s computer lab instructor, Susy is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

This Sunday, Sept. 11, the community can answer a vital 9-1-1 call by being screened as a potential donor by visiting the Thurnher House in Lacy Park between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Individuals of all races between the ages of 18 and 44 are encouraged to provide a non-invasive cheek swab in this initial screening to determine a potential match. It’s as simple as that.

Susy, daughter of Carver Elementary School computer lab instructor Jason Powert and his wife Patricia, was diagnosed with leukemia at 14 months of age. She has been undergoing treatment at the City of Hope in Duarte and is desperately in need of a bone marrow donor. Current and past Carver parents Diana Wolfrank and Jennifer Giles felt the need to organize this event on behalf of the family.

“I was on board right from the start,” said Wolfrank. “Whatever I could do to spread the word through our community of Susy’s need, I knew I needed to do it.”

Giles felt a similar calling.

“I was unaware of how easy it is to get screened as a potential donor; I’m just disappointed I don’t meet the requirements,” she told The Tribune. “With this event, I can still support the Powert family in their efforts to locate a donor for Susy.”

The search for a bone marrow donor is sponsored by Be The Match, which is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program – a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping patients get the life-saving transplants they need. Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukemia. For many, their only hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant.

Further information can be obtained at www.bethematch.org or by calling Joyce Valdez, community outreach specialist, at (626) 373-4000.

Community members may also be privately tested at home and have the sample sent to the lab. Call Valdez for home-testing info. For reference purposes, use the full name Susana ‘Susy’ June Powert.

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