A seven-year-old boy from Chesapeake, Virginia, named Cayden Addison, is in need of a bone marrow transplant to save his life. Cayden was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at the age of three and underwent two years of chemotherapy. However, in January 2023, he suffered a relapse. Despite undergoing additional chemotherapy and a new gene therapy called CAR T-cell, Cayden’s condition did not improve. The next step for Cayden is a bone marrow transplant, but finding a match may be challenging, especially because he is African American.
According to NMDP spokesperson Kate McDermott, patients of African American ancestry typically have a 29% chance of finding a compatible match. NMDP, also known as the National Marrow Donor Program and Be the Match, operates the most diverse marrow registry globally and encourages individuals to register online. Donating blood stem cells is a process similar to donating blood platelets, while bone marrow donation requires surgery. Cayden’s mother, Courtney Addison, is raising awareness about the importance of joining the registry to help not only her son but also other children facing similar situations. To learn more about becoming a donor or the donation process, interested individuals can visit the NMDP website.
