How your unique Hispanic ancestry can save a life
NMDP celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
See how you can make a difference
When Baylee was diagnosed with lymphoma at just 11 years old, her life took a dramatic turn. Thanks to a selfless blood stem cell donor who shares her ethnic background, Baylee was able to receive a life-saving transplant. Today, she’s thriving as a 19-year-old college student, studying to become a social worker, and is a testament to the power of medical advancements and the generosity of donors.
Her story highlights the Hispanic community’s power to save more Hispanic lives by increasing the diversity of the NMDP RegistrySM.
Diversity in the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) and bone marrow donor pool has never been more important. Patients with life-threatening blood cancers or blood disorders rely on donors like you to help find a cure. Because patients are more likely to match with someone who shares their ethnic background, your Hispanic or Latino ancestry could be the key to saving a life.
Hispanic and Latino patients need your help
A blood stem cell donation can cure or treat more than 75 diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma or sickle cell. However, just because someone is willing to donate blood stem cells doesn’t always mean they’re able to. Donors and patients who have closely matching human leukocyte antigens (HLAs)—proteins found on most cells in your body—have the most successful transplant outcomes.
Because HLAs are inherited, ancestry plays a big role in matching. However, Hispanic and Latino backgrounds are underrepresented on the donor registry, Hispanic and Latino patients have a lower chance of finding a matched, available donor on the registry due to underrepresentation. By joining the registry, you could help change that and be the cure that patients need.
Transforming transplant access for Hispanic and Latino patients
As a donor, you could be the cure for someone in the Hispanic or Latino community or from across the globe. But what about those patients who are unable to find a close HLA match? In an effort to expand access to a cure to all patients, we've launched NMDPSM Donor for All, an initiative that aims to unlock access to blood stem cell transplant through innovative research using partially matched donors, all while providing outcomes in line with using a fully matched donor.
Learn how NMDP Donor for All supports Hispanic and Latino patients
The transplant gave me more than life—it gave me purpose. I’m embracing every moment by pursuing my dreams.
baylee
Blood stem cell recipient
A donor could be the cure
Alfredo's only hope is a blood stem cell donor
Because of a rare genetic disorder called IL-10 receptor deficiency, Alfredo has experienced more pain as a child than some face in a lifetime. The lack of Hispanic and Latino diversity in the donor pool has made it harder for Alfredo to find a match, but your donation could be the one that helps him return to a normal childhood.
Join the registry
By joining the NMDP RegistrySM, you’re becoming part of a global community committed to curing blood-related cancers and diseases. Your unique ethnic background could prove to be the difference for a Hispanic or Latino patient in need.
Will you choose to say "yes" and become a donor today?