THE LIVING GIFT OF LIFE - The Continuing History of the National Marrow Donor Program
CAP BECAME INVOLVED with the National Marrow Donor Program through the late Dr. Bob Graves in 1989 as he was learning about bone marrow transplantation to help a fellow Soviet test pilot, Anatoly Grishchenko. See Cap's book about their selfless SACRIFICE.
THERE ARE PROBABLY others of you out in cyberspace that hold the same image Cap did until he learned about this important life saving medical procedure -- the doctors must crack open your bones to scrape out your marrow...about as enjoyable as donating a heart.
Au contrare, mon ami!
BONE MARROW IS a renewable source of life giving blood stem cells. While the procedure to harvest the marrow is a little more complicated than donating blood, it is quite similar. There are no lasting physical effects for the donor other than the knowledge you are providing a possible cure for a child, young adult or anyone threatened with leukemia or numerous other blood disorders.
CAP BECAME A volunteer donor in 1990. He has been called several times, but much to his regret, he has not yet enjoyed the privilege of saving another person's life with his marrow. Cap encourages everyone who reads this page to consider becoming a bone marrow donor like more than 2 million others world-wide. If you would like to know more about bone marrow donation and becoming a marrow donor, please contact the National Marrow Donor Program.
THE NATIONAL MARROW Donor Program (NMDP) is the national bone marrow donor registry for the United States of America. The NMDP is affiliated with virtually every other bone marrow donor registry in the world. Patients threatened with potentially fatal blood disorders might have a chance for a cure if enough concerned volunteers join with Cap and become bone marrow donors. For those interested people in the USA, you can contact NMDP via the hyperlinks provided on this page, or call: 1-800-MARROW2, or for those less inclined to word association, 1-800-627-7692. For those outside the USA, contact the bone marrow registry in your country; if you have any difficulty, eMail contact NMDP, they will help you find the correct place. The NMDP maintains strict confidentiality for the protection of donors. The NMDP will help you become a volunteer member of the growing community of people offering to help those in need. You can, too!! Patients and physicians can contact the NMDP for vital information that may be helpful. Contact the National Marrow Donor Program.
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A bona fide hero, extraordinary leader and magnificent man Cap had the great fortune and honor of knowing this extraordinary leader who was both revered and villified. For those who never knew him personally, just think of this...those of us who did know him at a personal level maintain an unwavering and unqualified loyalty and devotion to this great man. A reporter asked me how I would describe Bud Zumwalt; I answered promptly: "Two words -- courage and compassion." Those two words are not often used together, but they best describe the man who had boundless heart, infinity compassion for his fellow man, and a generosity that would embarass us all. This World is a lesser place without him.
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THE MARROW FOUNDATION is a non-profit, US 501c(3), charitable organization created to support the National Marrow Donor Program. The Marrow Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jill McGovern, PhD, heads a lean staff plus a dedicated Board of Directors including baseball great, Rod Carew, and 1996 Olympic women's soccer gold medalist, Mia Hamm. The Marrow Foundation is constantly searching for funds to support research, patient and donor assistance, as well as tissue typing expenses. If you would like to give to The Marrow Foundation to help others, you may contact The Marrow Foundation at:
ALL OF US who are volunteer donors, patients waiting to find their miracle match, physicians, nurses and staff treating critically ill patients, and those who already give to the The Marrow Foundation in support of the National Marrow Donor Program would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the NASCAR drivers and especially the 1997 Daytona 500 winner, Jeff Gordon, for their support. The 1-800-MARROW2 toll-free number for the National Marrow Donor Program was prominently displayed for the in-cockpit camera during the race. Thank you.
CAP SERVES ON the Board of Directors of the National Marrow Donor Program, as well as the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees, and chairs the Nomination Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The Marrow Foundation.
