NCCU student, event, seek to boost black bone-marrow donors
|
Posted By: Hija Chang on October 18, 2013 DURHAM Every year, more than 12,000 patients in the United States are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma for which a bone-marrow transplant or a transfusion of umbilical cord blood is their best or only hope of a cure. About 70 percent of patients who need a transplant do not have a matching donor in their family. They depend on the Be The Match Registry to find an unrelated donor or umbilical cord blood unit. One person waiting for a bone marrow transplant is N.C. Central University sophomore Sheldon Mba. A year ago, Mba started to have flu-like symptoms, was constantly fatigued and despite rest and diet changes, didn’t improve. He learned he had paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a progressive and destructive disease that results when the body’s red blood cells, missing a key protein, are attacked by white blood cells. Mba also has aplastic anemia, a blood disorder in which the body's bone marrow doesn't make enough new blood cells. Every two weeks he heads to the UNC Hematology Clinic for treatment, and he takes eight medications on a daily basis. “I never know how I’ll feel,” Mba said. “That’s why I focus on dance education. I have learned that despite not being a performer, I can still be a dancer.” Continued: http://www.thedurhamnews.com/2013/10/15/32... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Hija Chang
Management, See Moss Interactive Bellarmine University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
Rosen Foundation expanding scholarship program, partnering with Bethune-Cookman UniversityCarrying on the legacy of Harris Rosen and his commitment to education, today the Harris Rosen Foundation announced it is expanding its already-successful scholarship program and partnering with Bethu ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 322 Views • May 19th, 2026 |
 |
Sinners vs. Michael: Which Film Actually Won the Ultimate Culture Debate?While Antoine Fuqua’s Michael is dominating the box office with its electrifying, stadium-level concert recreations and a star-making, uncanny physical performance by Jaafar Jackson, critics and film ...more
TaQuan Ford • 245 Views • May 16th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 109,515 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
