Just over four months ago Arkansas Tech University registered nearly 1700 members of the Tech community with Be The Match, the national bone marrow registry, during a 24-hour donor registration drive.
Fast forward to now, one Arkansas Tech University student may be able to help save the life of a woman battling leukemia.
Brooke Nelms, a student majoring in psychology and sociology, was contacted for further testing by Be the Match.
“When I got the call from Be the Match, I had just gotten my registration card a month before,” she added. “I was very excited to be contacted and doubted I would ever be part of something like this when I registered. They told me I was a match for a woman with leukemia.”
Earlier this summer, Nelms had her blood drawn at a local hospital, and it is currently being evaluated to ensure it will be a suitable match.
“Be the Match told me it could take up to 60 days to finish all the testing to make sure I am the best match and to make sure the person is healthy enough to accept my donation,” said Nelms.
Even if she does not end up being the match, Nelms said she is happy to do what she can to help save the life of someone else.
“I initially signed up because Dr. Mikles talked about the drive in one of my classes,” said Nelms. “She sounded so passionate, and it seemed like an easy way to help.”
Statistics from Be The Match state that approximately one in every 540 people who register with Be The Match are called upon to be donors. With that number in mind, approximately three lives may be saved by the efforts of those involved in the Arkansas Tech Be The Match drive.
Learn more about Be the Match.
