By COLlive reporter
A few weeks ago, Rabbi Moshe Bleich, Director of Chabad Wellesley in Massachusetts, was introduced to a local Jewish couple who have 2 children.
He was told that the wife, 30 years old, has only a few weeks to live. She has leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow that is characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells.
The Shliach was told that the woman only has a few weeks to live unless a bone marrow match is found.
“I have been running drives all over, trying desperately to save her life,” Bleich told COLlive.com on Thursday. “I have already gotten several hundred people to sign up and get tested, but we still have not found her a match.”
He said a last resort will be tonight, Motzoei Shabbos, when many Chassidim and bochurim will be attending two large events in Crown Heights.
Testing tables will be placed at the central Yud Shvat Farbrengen in the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway and another at the Kinus Hatmimim gathering at Campus Chomesh on Lefferts Avenue.
Bleich said volunteers will be waiting for the guests.
“It’s real simple,” he said. “It takes 30 seconds to take a cotton swab (Q-Tip) to check the inside of your mouth and you are tested (Results take 3 weeks). No blood, no money and you can save a Yiddishe neshomo. This is pikuach nefesh mamash.”
The Bone Marrow Drive is being co sponsored by Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Ahavad Chesed, Gift of Live Foundation and Hatazlah Crown Heights.
“If someone is a match, hopefully we can get away with their stem cells (just giving some blood),” Bleich added. “There is a chance that she will need marrow which means taking some marrow off of the match, which can save her life.”
Is no match is found, all test will be passed on for matches for other Jews.
Where on earth did you hear that garbage?! The best chance for a match is an immediate (nuclear) family member; the second best chance is from a distant relative; and the third chance can come from absolutely ANYONE – no specific age or anything! dont make up stories.
Great to see the bochurim at Mayanot helping out.
The 65 volunteers who helped run the 2 drives, which finished at 4:30 AM!!!!!
Yasher koach to rabbi bleich for you care for another jew. I would like to also take the opportunity to give recognition to the all those who where there in (to show the bachurim what to do……
(Good to c u both baruch’s (weingarten/meer)
the bigest chance is a 21 yaer old man
Thank you Rabbi Bleich and the great team assembled doing this great mitzva. Hatzlocho in your shlichus, you are totally given over to the Rebbe.
The men are having events tonight at those sites which is why they thought it would be a great opportunity to reach crowds of people. In addition, I have never heard that same gender creates a more likely match for tests like these, check your info. Generally, there are plenty of apportunities for women to donate.
The poster says that men are welcome. Surely if the patient is a woman, then a closer genetic match will be amongst females? Furthermore, if this Bone Marrow Drive is open to women as well, wouldn’t it increase the chances of finding a match?
were can women be tested?
by the national bone marrow foundation, do I have to go again?
theres a jewish registry for blood and bone marrow in australia i think its called ‘gift of life’ and there was recently a drive for people here who needed a match maybe theres a way to see if any of us down here can be of any help?
zol zein mit mazal
I hope a match is found! Should be Hatzlacha Lemaala Miderech Hateva!! What a great mitzva!