MARROW DRIVE TO BE HELD FOR TEEN NO MATCH FROM PREVIOUS SEARCH.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- Fifteen-year-old Kendyl Biby is looking for a match. The young woman isn't hoping to find a husband, but someone else who could change her life forever.

The Valencia teen has Fanconi's anemia, a disease that results in decreased production of blood cells and platelets, which affects her immune system. Her only hope of a complete recovery is to receive a bone-marrow transplant.

The only way to find a match is to get more people to register with the national marrow-donor program.

A bone marrow registration drive is being held in conjunction with a blood drive for the American Red Cross from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 19 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 24443 McBean Parkway, Valencia.

Blood donors age 18 to 60 can sign up for the registry, which requires a small blood sample to determine type. Names will remain on the registry until the donor's 61st birthday; if they match a patient waiting for a transplant, they will be contacted.

The drive, organized as an Eagle Scout project by Blake Mendenhall, is the second registration and collection drive held on her behalf.

Three years ago, Eagle Scout Norris Whitmore Jr. organized a drive, but no match was found for Biby.

For appointments, call [phone].

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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