Community Rallies Around Goleta Mom Battling Leukemia
The community is rallying around a local woman living with Leukemia.
On Sunday, dozens turned out for a marrow-donor registry drive sponsored by “Be The Match” at Cavalry Chapel in Santa Barbara.
Krista English of Goleta is battling AML Leukemia for the second time. The mother of two got a life-saving bone marrow transplant four years ago. But, this summer she had a relapse.
English tells NewsChannel 3, she’s now a candidate for a second transplant and is undergoing chemotherapy until she finds a new match. Until then, English says she wants to raise awareness about the need for more marrow donors.
This weekend at the “Be The Match” event, potential donors did a simple swab of their cheek and filled out some paperwork. Then, they became part of a growing registry of more than 10 million people.
Organizer Paige Morrison says, “Only one out of 540 people on the registry actually get called to donate. But, if you get the call, it’s like winning the lottery because you can help save someone’s life.”
To find out how you can become a potential donor, log on to: bethematch.org/Home.aspx
Friends and family will also host a fundraiser car wash for English’s family. It will take place on October 5th at First United Methodist Church at 305 East Anapamu Church in Santa Barbara from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
