within 6 Degrees of Separation: Me – Coworker – Coworker’s Grandson (classmate) – Zach Guillot

Zach is entering his second round of chemo on Friday (12/16/11) because we still don’t have a confirmed donor…please pass this along if you can…! Thanks. Julie/mom

PLEASE HELP FIND A MATCH FOR ZACH!

WHO IS ZACH?
– Zach is 7 years old and attends 1st grade in Dallas. He is missing his two front teeth and needs a bone marrow donor for the holidays!
– He was a grand marshal in the 2010 Children’s Medical Center Parade in Dallas…you might have seen him on TV
– He is well known at Children’s Medical Center Dallas for chasing nurses through the halls dressed as Batman, Superman and Ironman and for riding his big wheel through the halls at top speed – all while undergoing a intense chemo. He also loves nighttime lightsaber battles with his nurses! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWM5iDEqS0g&feature=related

ZACH NEEDS YOU TO ENTER THE BONE MARROW REGISTRY:
– Zach was diagnosed with AML (a type of leukemia) in February 2010 when he was 5 years old. After undergoing 3 intensive rounds of chemotherapy, he received a bone marrow transplant from his brother, Jake, then 3 years old. Zach returned to school, required no medication, and resumed all the activities a 6-7 year old enjoys. He was doing extremely well, and we were beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Then, a week prior to Thanksgiving 2011, we received the devastating news that Zach’s leukemia had returned. Although it is a very uphill battle, Zach is a very strong little boy. His best hope for a cure, according to doctors, is another bone marrow transplant (ASAP!), this time from an unrelated donor. Seems that his brother’s marrow may have been “too perfect” of a match and did not recognize and destroy any hiding leukemia cells as was hoped.
– Zach is currently a patient at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. He will re-enter the hospital this Friday to undergo his second round of (relapse protocol) chemotherapy.
– See Zach’s story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxS3j9F7QJ8 AND http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3WEARpm6qE&feature=related

HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED:
– The Guillot family would like to request the urgent help of the entire community. We are asking that everyone go to https://www.dkmsamericas.org/register as soon as possible and consider registering online as a potential bone marrow donor.
– We are also asking everyone to spread the word to friends, family, co-workers, and their neighborhood about Zach’s situation and ask them to consider joining the registry as well. Please consider e-mailing your contact list and/or posting to your Facebook page. Young people 18 and over (college-aged and twenty-somethings) make premier donors, so we are requesting focus on this group as well.
– If anyone is interested in organizing a Bone Marrow drive to register donors real-time, the swabs collected can be overnighted/expedited to the registry. Please contact Amy Roseman at amy@dkmsamericas.org or 646-530-2911. Amy assisted us in Dallas with a marrow drive – she can supply the swabs and support services if you can supply the volunteers! Attached is a slideshow: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/PH9Rg9Ks.
– If you do not meet the age or health requirements to be a donor, you might consider donating to DKMS (https://www.dkmsamericas.org/register) to help pay for processing swabs, as they are offered FREE to everyone but cost $65 each to process. AND you can help spread the word!

WHAT IS A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT? WHY DOES ZACH NEED ONE?
– Zach has a blood cancer, leukemia, so his bone marrow is creating defective blood cells that effectively “crowd out” his normal blood cells. His bone marrow needs to be destroyed and replaced with healthy marrow. A bone marrow transplant involves destroying the patient’s bone marrow with strong chemotherapy and simply infusing them with a bag of healthy marrow (or stem cells), similar to a simple blood transfusion. Amazing simple. Amazingly complex! Zach requires no surgery for this procedure. It is a tough process and can involve some scary complications, but it can also be a lifesaver and a permanent cure.

HOW DO I ENTER THE REGISTRY and WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING A DONOR?
– Entering the bone marrow registry is EASY, PAINLESS and FREE at https://www.dkmsamericas.org/register. Answer a few health questions and receive a free cheek swab kit in the mail – that’s it! You will swab the inside of each of your cheeks for 10-15 seconds (2 swabs) and return them via mail to DKMS.
– Donating bone marrow involves some screening bloodwork, a checkup/physical, and a health history-type questionnaire. 80% of bone marrow is donated in a 4-6 hour outpatient procedure similar to some blood product donations (no surgery, no bone cracking!). You can learn more here: http://www.dkmsamericas.org/educate . All expenses related to the donation are covered…there is NO COST to the donor!
– Donating your bone marrow is as significant as donating your heart, kidney, or liver to save someone’s life! However, bone marrow donation is a simple, outpatient procedure…your bone marrow completely regenerates (like your blood) and side effects are generally minor.

FOLLOW ZACH’S STORY and JOIN HIS TEAM:
– On Facebook “ZachAttacksLeukemia” – “LIKE” our page
– Visit https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/zachguillot/createorsignin
– Read more (but this article states, in error, that a donor has been found…a donor has not been found): http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20111209-boy-still-seeking-bone-marrow-match-inspires-drive.ece
– TV story: http://www.the33tv.com/about/station/newsteam/kdaf-bone-marrow-drive-for-zach-draws-hundreds-story,0,2941184.story
– Brad Sham announces Zach’s drive before the Cowboys game on the radio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw2n2YVqO8c&feature=related