SEATTLE - About 4,000 people every day are desperately searching for a bone marrow donor.

That list now includes 4-year-old Nicole Howard of Seattle. A stem cell or bone marrow transplant is her only hope.

But she can't have surgery without a donor, and because of her ethnicity, it's hard to find a donor.

"It was just a shock, you don't ever think something like this is ever gonna hit your family," said Trish Howard, Nicole's mother.

Less than three months ago, Nicole was diagnosed with leukemia.

"We will find the person who is out there to help our daughter," said Rob Howard, Nicole's father.

Only 2 Percent Of Donors Are Multiracial

Finding a donor is never easy. For Nicole it will be even harder. She's half Japanese and half Caucasian. Right now only 2 percent of donors on the National Bone Marrow Registry are multiracial.

"We do not have an acceptable match out of the 4 million people on the registry. We have to go find our own," said Nicole's father.

The Puget Sound Blood Center is just as desperate to find ethnically diverse donors to add to the donor registry. And, to help Nicole and others, it will have to hold blood drives.

'Our Cry For Help'

Doctors believe the best hope for Nicole is a half-Japanese, half-Caucasian match, but it's not her only hope. Doctors also say although it's unusual it's possible that a donor of any descent could save her life.

That's why the Puget Sound Blood Center and Nicole's family are asking for anyone willing to roll up their sleeve and give blood to do it.

"Our cry for help is please if you are a multiracial, particularly half Japanese and half Caucasian, please consider being on the National Registry. It's a simple blood test and it could save our daughter's life," said Rob Howard.

For More Information:

www.psbc.org
www.helpnicole.org

-- Cherri (jessam6@home.com), August 16, 2001