Drumheller’s youth have taken it upon themselves to try and save the lives of others.
On Monday, May 30, the Canadian Blood Services and One Match organization made their way to the DVSS library. Students from the school lined up and volunteered for a cheek swab to see if their stem cells matched someone in need.
Blood typing was also available for anyone wishing to donate blood in the future.
Stem cells are immature cells. The cells have not developed yet and can become red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, which help to stop bleeding.
Blood related diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, inherited immune system and metabolic disorders, can be treated with stem cell transplants.
Students simply participated in a cheek swab, which were sent off to the One Match database. Students will be notified if they are a match to anyone.
Robin Henwood, a coordinator for the One Match Organization explained to inSide Drumheller the importance of people donating their cells.
“One match is an international data base of stem cell owners. So, if someone is looking for a match, they can access our data base and find someone who matches theirs.”
One match is recently in need of male, ethnically diverse donations.
“This is because male stem cells always have a better outcome. It is like any other transplant, like a lung or liver. The body can reject it. There is less chance of that happening with a male. Our data base is 70% Caucasian, and that isn’t really the face of Canada, so we are always looking for more ethnically diverse people to match with.”
Shannon Dart, a past DVSS high school math teacher and a stem cell related disease survivor, reflects on the importance of this program,“I think it is really important that the Canadian Blood Services and One Match are coming to schools to inform younger people about how they can help and to promote the idea of stem cell research. It warms my heart to have so many young people involved in this program. They are helping to save a lot of lives.”
