FAIRFIELD COUNTY — Connecticut native “Maxine” was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a form of blood cancer. A bone marrow transplant is essential for her survival. Maxine, who is a physical therapist, grew up in Norwalk and resides in Fairfield County with her husband and two young daughters. She attended Camp Ramah in Massachusetts, Norwalk High School and Boston University.

Unfortunately, Maxine has yet to find her perfect match through the national donor registries.

When her friends contacted Gift of Life regarding holding a donor drive in her honor, they were shocked and disheartened to learn that over 9000 previously collected potential donor samples were waiting to be tested due to lack of funding. Maxine’s miracle match could be sitting in a box, just waiting to be found. Funds are being raised to have already collected test kits sent to the lab for processing. By clearing up some of the waiting list of samples, we have the opportunity to find a match for Maxine, as well as others who are in need oftransplants. Contributions can be made by going to https://www.giftoflife.org/dc/Match-for-Maxine/blog.aspx

Visit giftoflife.org

To be tested and added to the hundreds of thousands already on the national registry visit www.giftoflife.org. There you can get more information and order a swab test kit (no blood or needles necessary).

Gift of Life is an associate donor registry of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and a participating member of the worldwide registry Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide.