Bone marrow testing at HAFTR on Sunday

The Gift of Life Marrow Registry will conduct bone marrow testing in a quest to find a donor to help a Cedarhurst resident who has chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, a cancer that begins blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and invades the blood. It affects mainly older adults.

Shlomo was diagnosed with CMML. His son Daniel was able to donate stem cells last November. Despite that the cancer returned, causing Shlomo and his family to turn to the community for support.

Along with the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, Shlomo is searching for his perfect miracle match to help save his life. Based on similar genetic ancestry, the Ashkenazi community is considered  the best hope of finding a match as soon as possible.

To join the Gift of Life Registry, donors simply swab the inside of their cheeks and complete a registration questionnaire. The ideal demographic for successful transplants are 18- to 35-year-olds who are in good health are strongly urged to be tested.

Those unable to attend in person can request a swab kit to be delivered at home by visiting giftoflife.org/Shlomo. To hold a virtual or in-person donor recruitment drive, email Traci Ackerman at tackerman@giftoflife.org.

Testing will take place Sunday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hebrew Academy of the Five Toens and Rockaway High School, 635 Cedarhurst Ave. in Cedarhurst.