Team Seymour supports a wingman

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  When fellow Airmen or their families are in need, it is not uncommon for the Air Force community to step up and help in any way they can.

The Seymour Johnson community is hosting a bone marrow drive in hopes of finding a donor match for United States Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Simonsen's son, Seth, 14, at the Base Exchange Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This is not the first time that Simonsen's family has relied on a stranger's extreme act of kindness. In 2009, both of his children were diagnosed with Dyskeratosis Congenita, a type of inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. His daughter Sarah, 19, received a transplant from an anonymous donor, Aug. 9.

She was fortunate to find a willing young woman with a perfect match as a donor; however, Seth is still waiting.

The Department of Defense established its own marrow donor center, the C. W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Center in Kensington, Md., to meet the special needs of service members and their families. While all potential donors are placed in the National Marrow Donor Registry, the samples are first scanned through the DOD system to make sure that a fellow service member is not in need the transplant.

Once a potential match is identified, the C.W. Bill Young/DOD Marrow Donor Center asks the donor if they want to continue with further blood testing to identify if they are an exact match for the recipient.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our Airmen and their families to give back and be a part of a life-saving technology that allows someone to live longer and have a second chance at life," said Col. Leslie Claravall, 4th MDG commander. "This is another way for our Airmen to support their wingman and global communities."

Providing a sample is an easy process and takes less than 10 minutes. After completing a simple registration form, a volunteer collects four oral swabs. The swab samples are then tested to determine the HLA or tissue type. The results are coded and added to the registry until the donor is 65 years old.

"I feel honored that there are people at SJ willing to go into the database," Simonsen said. "The chances of matching any particular non-relative is remote, but by being in the database you could be called upon to save a life."

Simonsen appreciates those who volunteer as bone marrow donors and encourages them to follow up with the system each time they move.

"It is important to keep your contact information up to date once you register. It doesn't do much good to be a perfect match if the doctors can't find you," he said.

Airmen, civilians and dependents with a Department of Defense identification card can participate in the drive. For more information about donating bone marrow, visit www.dodmarrow.com or call 1-800-MARROW-3.