2008 Woodie Awards
Field hockey team sponsors bone marrow drive
Kimberly Grammas
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
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On Dec. 4 the Sacred Heart field hockey team held a bone marrow donor drive in at the William H. Pitt Center in a class room across from athletic training.
The drive lasted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and was held for Nicole Nelson, a close friend of head field hockey coach Chris Blais.
Nelson, 34, is married to her husband Rick and together they have a daughter named Katie.
After visiting with her doctor Nicole learned that she has a life threatening disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia.
According to Blais, "she has a very rare tissue type and has one year to find a bone marrow match."
Tissue type is usually inherited so a possible donor may be of French, Native American Indian, and Northern European backgrounds, but everyone was encouraged to register for the drive.
Students were asked to bring an insurance card to the drive, fill out paper work for background information, and then a swab of the inside of each person's cheek was taken.
At the event Blais said he was happy with the turnout as well as with his team.
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"They sat down by FLIK for a few days and were very motivated and energetic about getting other Sacred Heart students and faculty to help out as well," said Blais of his team.
The start of the drive began positively with around twenty people at 11 a.m. Members of the field hockey team were actively participating with all aspects of the drive and were eager for a successful drive for their coaches friend Nicole.
"We wanted to put a bone marrow drive together to find a match for Nicole. Our coach has been working hard for weeks to put this together and to have a successful drive at Sacred Heart. The whole team will be here throughout the entire day to help out," said junior Melissa Mazin.
Once someone registers with the National Marrow Donor Program they are put on a national list.
"Chances are rare that someone may match as a recipient so it is important to get as many people as possible to come and take part," said Mazin.
Even if you do not match the person whom the drive is being held for you may be able to help someone else in the United States. A person will only be contacted if they are found as a match for a possible recipient.
"This is a wonderful thing, it is such a small price to pay to save someone's life," said graduate assistant Colleen Carney.
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The drive lasted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and was held for Nicole Nelson, a close friend of head field hockey coach Chris Blais.
Nelson, 34, is married to her husband Rick and together they have a daughter named Katie.
After visiting with her doctor Nicole learned that she has a life threatening disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia.
According to Blais, "she has a very rare tissue type and has one year to find a bone marrow match."
Tissue type is usually inherited so a possible donor may be of French, Native American Indian, and Northern European backgrounds, but everyone was encouraged to register for the drive.
Students were asked to bring an insurance card to the drive, fill out paper work for background information, and then a swab of the inside of each person's cheek was taken.
At the event Blais said he was happy with the turnout as well as with his team.
...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
"They sat down by FLIK for a few days and were very motivated and energetic about getting other Sacred Heart students and faculty to help out as well," said Blais of his team.
The start of the drive began positively with around twenty people at 11 a.m. Members of the field hockey team were actively participating with all aspects of the drive and were eager for a successful drive for their coaches friend Nicole.
"We wanted to put a bone marrow drive together to find a match for Nicole. Our coach has been working hard for weeks to put this together and to have a successful drive at Sacred Heart. The whole team will be here throughout the entire day to help out," said junior Melissa Mazin.
Once someone registers with the National Marrow Donor Program they are put on a national list.
"Chances are rare that someone may match as a recipient so it is important to get as many people as possible to come and take part," said Mazin.
Even if you do not match the person whom the drive is being held for you may be able to help someone else in the United States. A person will only be contacted if they are found as a match for a possible recipient.
"This is a wonderful thing, it is such a small price to pay to save someone's life," said graduate assistant Colleen Carney.
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