Help Save Karam Kaur’s Life – Register to Be a Stem Cell Donor

Note: Readers can follow @MatchForKaram on Instagram for Updates

:dateline:Karam, a 25-year-old student at the University of Waterloo, recently completed her second year of the Doctor of Optometry program. She loves listening to music, reading Harry Potter ever since she first got her hands on it, playing and watching Basketball, and would have Pizza for every meal if she could (even while she�s undergoing treatment).

Karam was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in May 2019. She is in urgent need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant. No match has been found within her family or anyone in the worldwide registry to date.

The best chance of finding a match for Karam will be through the South Asian community. Only 1 out of 4 patients find a compatible donor. There are 19 million people registered in the global bone marrow registry, out of which less than 3% are of South Asian descent. The chances of finding a match are 1 in a million.

Every one person that gets tested and becomes part of the registry could be a potential match for Karam.

Once you are matched, you will be able to give life-saving stem cells to someone in need.

The procedure is simple, like giving blood. An IV is used to draw blood from your arm. A machine is used to separate the stem cells from other cells in your blood. Your body is able to grow and replace the stem cells you donated in a few days.

There is little to no pain during or after the procedure or any other lasting side effects. You cannot get sick or catch any type of disease or cancer from making the donation.

NEXT STEPS

? Get tested: Order a Swab Kit from www.join.bethematch.org/swab4karam. Or join by texting �SWAB4KARAM� at 61474.

? Tell everyone in your family and friends to get tested

? Help educate others about Leukemia and transplants

? Contact Be The Match @bethematch