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Marrow donor
‘a godsend’ for
HPD captain

Alvin Nishimura's transplant
will be performed May 30

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Too few ever get a first chance, so leukemia-stricken Honolulu police Capt. Alvin Nishimura considered himself lucky when two potential bone marrow donors were found last month.

But both withdrew from the worldwide registry, leaving the 50-year-old Nishimura in dire need of a transplant.

"It's a godsend for him to have a third match," police Chief Lee Donohue said yesterday in announcing that an unidentified person with the perfect tissue typing for Nishimura has consented to be a donor.

"I know if Alvin were here, he would say this is not about him but about saving lives of those affected with leukemia."

The transplant will be performed May 30 at City of Hope Beckman Research Institute in Duarte, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles in San Gabriel Valley.

Nishimura, who was diagnosed in October with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and Donohue went to Los Angeles this week to help kick off a bone marrow drive involving Southern California law enforcement agencies.

Nishimura will be "touring" California until May 22, when he's scheduled to check in at the hospital, says Donohue.

Considering Nishimura has had three chemotherapy treatments, Donohue added, "it's amazing how strong he is."

"What I expect from Alvin is, he will fully recover," Donohue said.

There is a 100-day observation period following transplant surgery. If all goes well, Nishimura could be home for his birthday in September.