VMH Laboratory offers “Be The Match” sampling every day

All summer long, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon has been offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling at all area special events. Now the hospital Laboratory will be offering that same service every day, Monday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone ages 18-40 who wishes to participate and possibly save a life.

“Be the Match” connects patients with life-threatening blood cancers and diseases like sickle cell with a matching donor for blood stem cell transplants. The campaign provide patients and their families with one-on-one support, education and guidance through the transplant process, which improves patient outcomes. This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match.

“Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy and painless. Those ages 18-40 who are interested in giving a stem cell sample can stop by the hospital main entrance to be swabbed.  After filling out an online enrollment form, the inside of each of the donor’s cheeks is swabbed to obtain the stem cell sample. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes. “Be the Match” will send a confirmation email when the swab has been received in its lab and will again reach out to the donor when and if they are a match to someone in need, giving them the opportunity to truly save a life.

For more information, call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Laboratory at 563-568-3411.