Young dad in need of transplant to beat rare disease

Young dad in need of transplant to beat rare disease

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Story Published: Mar 18, 2008 at 7:23 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2008 at 10:16 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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LAKE STEVENS, Wash. -- Doctors have handed a local dad a dire diagnosis. They say he needs help immediately.

Matt Johnson is just 34 years old. But just two weeks ago, doctors diagnosed him with a rare and aggressive blood disease that usually strikes the elderly.

"This is common once people get to 70 years of age," he said.

He doesn’t have time to wait for a stem cell transplant and if he doesn't find a bone marrow match soon, his myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) could lead to leukemia. Then he'd need to be in remission from cancer before he could receive a transplant.

With each day that passes, his wife grows more anxious.

"We've been together 18 years and we have four very young children that need their daddy, and we just need to find a match," said Jackie Johnson. "One of the first things Matt said when he was diagnosed is 'at least it's not you or the kids.'"

"Thinking about the kids without a dad and Jackie raising four kids on her own, that's the thing that gets to me the most," said Matt.

In his home town of Friday Harbor, Johnson's friends and family are holding a bone marrow drive in his honor. Anyone can get on the national registry with a simple saliva sample.

"I think there will be a match for me but I just think it's important to get people on this national registry. What can it hurt if you can save a life?" said Matt.

Matt says he not only has faith that he'll survive, but he'll also convince others to save a life, too.

For more information on becoming a donor, visit the Puget Sound Blood Center's Web site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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