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High-profile patients
boost local bone
marrow registry

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By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

The registry of potential bone marrow donors grew by 3,024 last year, the greatest increase in local volunteers for the worldwide effort in the past three years.

The success in adding prospective sources for lifesaving transplants was helped because "several patients were well known, (and) a lot of people came out to support them," said Renee Adaniya, data management coordinator with the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

"Donors from Hawaii have helped people all around the world," she said.

Last year, the drive for donors was boosted by friends of Honolulu police Capt. Alvin Nishimura, who underwent a bone marrow transplant in May but now needs another transplant. Nishimura and Jayson Dela Cruz, 19, of Ewa Beach, who has chronic leukemia, are among the local blood-disease patients for whom donors are being sought.

Hawaii's donors "potentially helped save lives," Adaniya said. "Even when not all patients make it, (donors) give hope to the patients."

The local volunteers become part of an international registry. When none of Nishimura's family members tested as suitable donors, doctors found a match in the worldwide registry. They are awaiting word whether that anonymous 31-year-old man will again agree to be a donor.

Last year, more than 300 Maui residents signed up in response to a drive on behalf of Lane "Bobo" Ciacci Jr., 47, a Maui resident and former University of Hawaii football player. Ciacci died Dec. 8, about a month after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

The peak in local donations came in 1996 when 34,293 islanders responded to toddler Alana Dung's battle with leukemia. The child received a bone marrow transplant from a Taiwan donor, but died in October 1997.

Volunteers may add their names to the list in a registration event planned by the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alii Place in downtown Honolulu. A registry booth will be open Feb. 16, 17 and 18 during the Great Aloha Run Health and Fitness Expo at Blaisdell Center exhibition hall.