|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Christopher Pearson
A simple donation of blood could save the life of 18 year-old Ramon Orestes Martinez, who suffers from leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.
When a donor match is found, in ninety percent of the cases, all that is required is to provide a simple blood donation. It’s the stem cells from that blood that Ramon needs. Doctors request donors in the 18-35 age group nearly 75% of the time. Research shows cells from young, healthy donors lead to more successful stem cell transplants for patients.
In 2021, Ramon, an expert horseback rider and award-winning roper, noticed a bump on his knee that was diagnosed as Pediatric Osteosarcoma, known specifically for its aggressive malignancy. After grueling chemotherapy treatments and, ultimately, a total knee replacement, Ramon was pronounced cancer-free in 2022.
Then, on July 5, 2024, Ramon learned that he now had leukemia, cancer of the blood. The doctors explained that in very rare cases, the chemotherapy treatment Ramon received can cause the development of leukemia.
“Our family has launched a campaign called Swab4Ramon to educate and encourage community members to enroll in the National Marrow Donor Program,” says Yarlem Nunez, Ramon’s sister. “Once enrolled, NMDP will mail a kit to your home. It’s very easy and only involves swabbing the inside of your mouth and sending the kit back.”
Once a donor is found and is willing to participate, all costs involved are covered by NMDP.
Anyone interested in registering for the National Marrow Donor Program can either visit the NMDP website at www.bethematch.org or visit in person at 7212 NW 56th Street in Miami to be swabbed. You can also text SWAB4RAMON to 61474.
For more information, please visit the Instagram account at @Swab4Ramon.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@
