A blood donor clinic and stem cell swab event in honour of a Chatham woman who needs a stem cell transplant is taking place on Wednesday.
Jocelyn McGlynn, 21, was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) back in November.
"She has completed one round of chemo, which was successful," said family friend Christine Canniff. "She's starting a second round of chemo right now, this week, and they're beginning the search for a stem cell donor."
Canniff said the process to become a stem cell donor is very easy.
"They'll collect some information about you, do a swab, it gets put in a kit, and then gets sent away," said Canniff. "Just like that, it's very simple."
However, to donate stem cells you have to be under the age of 35.
"There's just a better outcome for patients with less complications after the transplant. It's just been proven that that is the best stem cell apparently to collect," said Canniff. "And actually, I just read the other day, three out of four stem cells donors are male, but yet there are only about 22 per cent of males on the registry."
Wednesday's blood donor clinic and stem cell swab event is taking place at the Spirit and Life Centre on Wellington St. in Chatham from 1 p.m. to 7 .pm. They recommend you make an appointment in advance by going online to blood.ca.
