Blood drive scheduled for boy with disorder

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The boy has been undergoing chemotherapy and blood transfusions.

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Central Blood Bank has announced a bone-marrow typing and replenishment blood drive for 3-year-old Jordan Jack of Grove City.

The drive is scheduled for Tuesday in the community room of the Community Counseling Center, 2201 E. State St., Hermitage.

Jordan was recently diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Griscelli Syndrome. It is thought that this disorder is caused by mutations of specific recessive genes that cause some blood cells in the body to engulf and destroy other blood cells.

The disorder causes an abnormal decrease in both white blood cells and platelets, and the only known cure is for the patient to have a bone-marrow transplant. Since his diagnosis, he has been receiving chemotherapy treatments and numerous blood transfusions at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Jordan is the son of Monica and Jason Jack. His 7-year-old sister, Madalynn, has been tested, and there is a 25-percent chance that she could be a bone-marrow match. If she is not, they will need to turn to a national registry to find a match.

Purpose of blood drive

This special blood drive is scheduled to replenish blood that Jordan has used and will use during this process. More importantly, it is to increase the number of donors in the national registry.

Anyone donating blood at this drive may elect to join the National Marrow Donor Program (free) by completing additional paperwork and by submitting a mouth swab sample.

Friends and family of the Jacks are sponsoring this special blood drive to help replenish the community blood supply in honor of Jordan.

Those interested in donating may contact Katie Smith at (724) 981-6193, Ext. 177, or Central Blood Bank at (866) 366-6771.

Blood donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Proper ID is required to donate blood. A Central Blood Bank or military ID, driver's license or employee badge with picture and full name are all approved forms of ID.

Sunday, October 1, 2006