Florida Hospital Raises Awareness about the BMT Registry

Florida Hospital and Orlando Magic Partner to Raise Awareness about the Bone Marrow Transplant Registry

ORLANDO, Fla., March 30, 2010 - 180 Central Floridians made a choice to save a life at the Terrell Wilson Celebrity Drive, a bone marrow registration and blood drive, held at Florida Hospital on March 30.  The event was hosted by Florida Hospital and the Orlando Magic in memory of 21-year-old leukemia patient Terrell Wilson.

Terrell was an avid basketball fan, so while receiving treatment at Florida Hospital, Orlando Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw and the Orlando Magic Dancers visited Terrell for his 21^st birthday in an effort to lift his spirits.

"He told me after that day, that was the best birthday he had ever had," said Terrell's mom Mariesa Wilson.

But that was his last birthday.  Terrell lost his battle with leukemia on Christmas Day 2009.  That is why Florida Hospital and the Orlando Magic partnered to raise awareness about the bone marrow registry.

"I never really thought about being on the bone marrow registry until I met Terrell," said Bo Outlaw. "Then I found out that all it takes is a simple cheek swab to put your name on the list and I said sign me up."

Terrell was unable to find a match on the bone marrow transplant registry in time to save his life. 

"One major reason Terrell could not find a donor is because African Americans are under-represented on the bone marrow registry," said Dr. Vijay Reddy, medical director of the Florida Center for Cellular Therapy at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.  "They are the least likely minority group to find a bone marrow donor."

African Americans have a 60 percent chance of finding a donor compared to Caucasians who have an 88 percent chance. 

Today most bone marrow registrants who are a match for a patient don't have to have surgery to donate.  The donor can give through a procedure similar to a blood donation called a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical. The second way of donating is marrow donation, which is a surgical procedure. In each case, donors typically go home the same day they donate. For more information, visit www.marrow.org.

"I am so thankful to these organizations for helping our family raise awareness about bone marrow and blood donation," said Mariesa Wilson.  "If more people knew about it just last year maybe Terrell's life could have been saved."

For more information, contact the Florida Hospital Media Relations Team at 407-303-8217.

About the Florida Center for Cellular Therapy at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute

The Florida Center for Cellular Therapy, located at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, is Central Florida's first and only comprehensive bone marrow transplant center for both adult and pediatric patients. Since 1996, they have performed more than 350 blood and marrow transplants.

About The Orlando Magic

Orlando's NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic's mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. On the court, Orlando has won four division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009), had five 50-plus win seasons, and won the Eastern Conference title in 1995 and 2009. Off the court, on an annual basis the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise, scholarships and grants. Orlando Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 5,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, over the last 20 years nearly $15 million has been distributed to local non-profit community organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF), a fund of the McCormick Foundation since 1994, which serves at risk and disadvantaged youth. Ticket highlights include: 7,569 seats priced $25 or under per game; a $27 lower bowl ticket; and tickets priced at $10 per game. For ticket information log on to orlandomagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC.

www.FloridaHospitalNews.com

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