Click here to view the embedded video.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nJennifer Jones Austin is a Brooklyn mother of two, an advocate for disenfranchised children and their families, and a Senior Vice President at United Way of New York City. A lawyer and lifelong ambassador for families in her community, Jennifer\u2019s efforts have benefited thousands of people across New York State and beyond.<\/p>\n
Jennifer has always been an advocate for those in need, especially children. And recently, the BMCC community came together to do something special for Jennifer.<\/p>\n
Jennifer has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and is in immediate need of a bone marrow transplant.<\/p>\n
In conjunction with New York Blood Center (NYBC), The City University of New York is hosting blood and bone marrow drives at CUNY campuses throughout the five boroughs to help save the lives of patients like Jennifer, who are in need of a bone marrow or cord blood transplant.<\/p>\n
BMCC was the first CUNY college to host the blood and bone marrow drive at the Richard Harris Terrace. A press conference was also held at the event, which attracted\u00a0 nearly 100 blood donors and bone marrow registrants, including BMCC students, staff and faculty.<\/p>\n
Members of the BMCC Community Register to \u2018Be The Match\u2019
\nInside the Richard Harris Terrace, technicians from the New York Blood Center drew blood from the arms of donors, while NYBC representatives from the \u201cBe The Match\u201d National Marrow Donor Program recruited people to take the first step in becoming a bone marrow donor.<\/p>\n
At the drive, donors could either donate blood, place their name on the bone marrow registry, or both.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Jones Austin does not have a matching donor in her family and is depending on the \u201cBe The Match\u201d Registry\u2014the largest listing of volunteer marrow donors in the world\u2014to find a match. Patients are more likely to find a match from donors who share the same race or ethnicity. Yet, out of the registry of millions, fewer than 10 percent are African Americans. The \u201cBe The Match\u201d Registry drive to help Jennifer is aimed at addressing that situation.<\/p>\n
Bone marrow registration only involves completing a health history form, including questions about ethnicity, and providing a swab of cheek cells.<\/p>\n
By encouraging members of the CUNY community to donate, not only can a possible match be found for Jennifer, but donating blood or signing up for the \u201cBe The Match\u201d Registry can help save someone else\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
Donating blood is \u201ca civic responsibility\u201d
\nBMCC President Antonio P\u00e9rez was the emcee at the CUNY\/New York Blood Center press conference, held in the lobby just outside Richard Harris Terrace.<\/p>\n
P\u00e9rez told the crowd that he donated blood in college with his fraternity, and one of their goals was to raise 800 pints of blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students should be aware of what happens around the city,\u201d he said. \u201cThat includes being involved in the process of helping other human beings. Donate blood and be involved\u2014be part of this community and part of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
P\u00e9rez said donating blood or adding your name to the \u201cBe The Match\u201d Registry is \u201ca civic responsibility.\u201d \u201cDonating blood is easy, safe and painless\u2014it\u2019s also tremendously rewarding,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to save someone\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
P\u00e9rez reminded the audience, and the many students standing off to the side of the press conference area, that Jennifer Jones Austin\u2019s own close friends were, unfortunately, not a blood or bone marrow match.\u00a0 \u201cYou can become part of a new circle of friends that can help her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Student Ida Djiguimde, a business major, felt compelled to donate blood because she once saw a sick child in a hospital who was in desperate need of blood to survive. \u201cI saw a sign for the blood drive in the BMCC lobby and thought, \u2018I should do this,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cI should help somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n
BMCC serves \u2018a critical role\u2019 in helping others
\nDuring the press conference, donors continued to donate their time\u2014and their blood\u2014to the drive, throughout the day, encouraging their friends and co-workers to donate as well.<\/p>\n
Dr. Peter Grant Jordan, Interim Vice Chancellor, Division of Student Affairs for CUNY, also spoke at the press conference, stating that the CUNY community, including BMCC, serve a \u201ccritical role\u201d in servicing New York City.\u201c<\/p>\n
Blood is the most precious gift anyone can give,\u201d he said, reminding the audience that donating is \u201cneighbor helping neighbor.\u201d According to Dr. Jordan, CUNY is recognized as one of the top five organizations working with the New York Blood Center.<\/p>\n
After Dr. Jordan, Dr. Christopher Hillyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, New York Blood Center, spoke at the podium. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to help one person, and that one person becomes many people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Hillyer, blood and bone marrow donations are extremely important for patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look for blood every day,\u201d he said. \u201cThe New York Blood Center needs 1,500 units of blood every day to serve the community. When it comes to blood and bone marrow donation, in this case, we\u2019re all one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Chair of the City Council Health Committee, spoke after Dr. Hillyer, thanking Jennifer Jones Austin for \u201cmaking this [mission] personal for us,\u201d and for putting a face to a name when it came to donation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must step up,\u201d Arroyo said. \u201cAnd we hope Jennifer has many more birthdays to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shawn Austin speaks on behalf of his wife
\nA match has yet to be found for Jennifer Jones Austin, who wasn\u2019t able to attend the drive, but her husband, Shawn Austin, was grateful to see such a large crowd of supporters for his wife at BMCC.<\/p>\n
Shawn came and spoke at BMCC on behalf of Jennifer. The two met while attending Rutgers University and have two children.<\/p>\n
Shawn spoke about how busy Jennifer was, attending a special event for her late father and running errands with, and for, their young daughter and son. That is, until Jennifer\u2019s whole life changed in an instant. \u201cShe was tired. She thought she just had a virus,\u201d said Shawn. \u201cTurns out, she had leukemia and was in the ICU for ten days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shawn thanked the BMCC family on behalf of his own family. \u201cThank you for talking about what happened to Jennifer,\u201d he said. \u201cIf she were here, you\u2019d see tears from her because of all this wonderful community response.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to say that unfortunately, when Jennifer learned that neither her brother nor her two sisters would be a possible match for her, the family turned to the \u201cBe The Match\u201d database, and fellow New Yorkers, for help in finding a possible match.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince December 5th, we\u2019ve had about 50 blood and bone marrow drives,\u201d said Shawn Austin. \u201cWith the help of BMCC, we can sign more people up for the registry, and help Jennifer\u2014who donated blood herself on a regular basis before her diagnosis\u2014and so many others.\u201d<\/p>\n
——–<\/p>\n
To donate blood, please call:
\nToll Free:\u00a0 1-800-933-2566
\nVisit:\u00a0 www.nybloodcenter.org
\nFor more information about Blood and Bone Marrow Drives on CUNY campuses go to: http:\/\/www.cuny.edu\/news\/newsreleases_p=6140.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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