HOSA bone marrow project

By Anna Lersch

Each year the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), does a different project and this year they are doing the bone marrow project.  Mrs. Christopherson, co-advisor for HOSA, discussed the purpose of the bone marrow project and how it’s helpful.  This project is meant to help those who need treatment for certain types of blood diseases or cancers.  HOSA is encouraging people of the range of 18-44 years of age to register to be a donor, and for anyone of different ages to spread the word.

HOSA is currently working on a video that will be shared through the school about the steps on how to become a donor– the registering process. It will also share information such as: how to access the website, who is encouraged to register, what diseases this helps to treat, the process of finding a match, and how the bone marrow is donated once a match is found.

Those who register for this project will receive a DNA testing kit, which is meant to help match the right type of bone marrow to a person who needs it. They first look for a person in the patient’s family who can donate, if they don’t find anyone in the family who can donate, they look for another possible donor through the registry.  Once they find a match, the bone marrow is either extracted through the donor’s blood, or from the hip bone.  

To help demonstrate the importance of this project and understand it from another students perspective, Jennie Ponce-Gutierrez, a student at East Highschool who participates in HOSA, says, “We want to make people aware that about 70% don’t have a match and by signing up you can help.”

Nevertheless, while these may be unpredictable times, taking part in the bone marrow project by registering or by simply spreading the word gives us the power to save countless lives.  Let’s take advantage of this opportunity by doing anything we can to help.