MISSION OF MERCY : BOY'S LEUKEMIA DRAWS POTENTIAL BONE MARROW DONORS.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer She has never met David Rowe David Rowe is the name of several people:
``I have children, too,'' said Witt, who volunteered to have her blood tested after learning that a bone marrow transfer may be David's only hope. ``I wanted to help.'' Witt was among a crowd of people who gave blood Sunday at Simi Valley Community Church Simi Valley Community Church (SVCC) is located in Simi Valley, California. Its services are held on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday school starts at 9:00 a.m. Its youth program is run by youth pastor Matt Mattias. , where a drive for potential bone marrow donors was held throughout the afternoon. Within the first 45 minutes, 30 people had donated their blood to be tested as possible donors for the boy. The son of Steve and Debra Rowe, the church's missionaries to Brazil, David was David Was (born David Weiss, 26 October 1952, Detroit) is, with his stage-brother Don Was, the founder of the influential 1980s pop group, Was (Not Was). Reviewed by The New York Times diagnosed with leukemia when he was 9. Since his diagnosis, David has endured months of chemotherapy, most of which was administered in Brazil. Steve and Debra believed the disease was under control - until last month. While they had the choice to search for a bone marrow donor in Brazil, the family decided to come back home because the procedure has been practiced here longer, Steve said. David's diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia acute lymphocytic leukemia n. See acute lymphoblastic leukemia. acute lymphocytic leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL A malignant lymphoproliferative process that commonly affects children and young adults accounts for one of roughly 1,600 cases of leukemia expected among children nationwide this year, officials said. Church administrator Maureen Rauchfuss began coordinating the drive for David three weeks ago, when she learned the boy's leukemia went out of remission. Even though she has never met David and his family, she decided to help because she would want others to do the same if her family were in need. ``It's all about helping humanity and saving other people,'' said Rauchfuss, who has two daughters. ``If my family needed help, I would want everyone to come forward.'' Now, David's family is investing its faith in a stranger - an anonymous bone marrow donor they pray will be a perfect match for their son. The Rowes hope Sunday's bone marrow drive will be a step toward David's recovery. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (Color only in Conejo edition) Greg Eklund Greg Eklund (born April 18 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida) was the drummer for the American rock band Everclear until 2003. He replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994. Eklund is currently the lead guitarist and a co-vocalist of The Oohlas. donates a blood sample for phlebotomist phle·bot·o·mist n. 1. One who practices phlebotomy. 2. One who draws blood for analysis or transfusion. Anthony Montes mon·tes n. Plural of mons. at a church's bone marrow drive for 11-year-old David Rowe. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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