The Marrow Messenger

NMDP Mails Annual Newsletter to Millions

The National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP) began mailing its yearly newsletter, The Marrow Messenger, to nearly 3 million people in the United States.

The Marrow Messenger is a vital communication tool mailed to people who have joined the NMDP's Registry of potential volunteer marrow and blood stem donors. It serves four very important purposes:

• informs volunteer donors of any important changes at the NMDP;
• provides an easy tool for volunteers to update their address and contact information;
• provides an easy tool for volunteers to assess their health status to make sure they are still medically eligible to donate; and
• reminds volunteers that they joined the Registry and asks them to assess their commitment to donate if they are matched with a patient.

"Knowing how to contact volunteer donors is essential to saving lives," says Patricia Coppo, chief operating officer of the NMDP. "If a volunteer comes up as a match - maybe the only match - and we can't find them, the patient may not survive. Furthermore, we understand that people's lives change. If a volunteer is no longer medically eligible to donate or has changed his or her mind about donation, then we need to know that, too."

This year's edition also includes information on alternative ways of using stem cells, an update on the use of peripheral blood stem cells, other ways to help patients, an opportunity to participate in a national health research project and inspiring stories of patients who are alive today because of volunteer donors.

People who have joined the Registry, or who think they've joined the Registry, but do not receive The Marrow Messenger should call the NMDP at (800) MARROW-2. Likewise, anyone who receives The Marrow Messenger forwarded from a previous mailing address should update his or her address.