Some people still believe that we’re divided by countries, traditions, politics, religion, etc. The truth is, we are not. We are all human, have only one life to live, we are all powerful as well as vulnerable and have very similar dreams. Everybody wants to be safe, healthy, loved, useful and successful, have family and friends. No matter what you’ve heard: we are One Human Community. The awareness that “the other” is only a variation of you changes perspective on life.

Now picture this: a young man (31) in Los Angeles. Graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in communication. Married the girl of his dreams. They are happy together. They have three small children. The future has barely begun.

They have plenty of work to do, earn a living, raise their children, milestones to celebrate, later: parents to take care of, legacy to build… Right? It would be, except that life threw a monkey wrench into their plans.

Young and strong, Adam Krief was diagnosed with an aggressive type of blood cancer just last month. He is deteriorating quickly. His time is limited. His only hope: finding a matching bone marrow donor, QUICKLY. (Adam is currently undergoing chemotherapy: it isn’t a treatment or a cure, but an emergency measure to keep him alive until a matching donor is found.)

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN TESTING TO BECOME A DONOR:
Nothing more than a cotton swab! Go to BeTheMatch.org and sign up. They’ll send you a packet with a cotton swab, you just rub it inside your mouth and send back your saliva sample in a prepaid envelope.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IF YOU ARE A MATCH:
Not much more than a specialized blood donation. (The blood is extracted from your bone marrow.)

I’m not a medical doctor, but to the best of my understanding: there is no pain, no health risk, no surgery. (A bit of bone marrow is extracted with a syringe.) If you’re not a match: you’ll give a drop of your saliva for compatibility testing. If you are a match: you’ll donate a bit of your bone marrow.

I don’t know if you’re a match for Adam Krief. Once you register to be a bone marrow donor, you may have the opportunity to save another – just as precious! – life. If you are, you’ll save a life and gain close friends for life.

I started by saying that we are One Human Community. Today Adam’s life is on the line. Tomorrow it may be yours, mine, or someone we love. If it was me, I would LOVE to know that there are people out there who care. Wouldn’t you?

Adam Krief’s situation is serious and URGENT. Let’s get tested! A little less saliva won’t make us any less than we are. A bone marrow donation won’t leave us with a bone marrow or blood shortage: both replenish themselves. The sacrifice involved won’t diminish who we are in any way. The gift we can give by sharing our own “natural resources” (nothing more some saliva and bone marrow) has the power to save lives!

UPDATE!

The SFV Marrow Drive Is Over, But You Still Can Help!
Support the efforts of Hope 4 Adam!

For the record: the video as well as the pictures are properties of Los Angeles CBS News. No copyright infringement is intended.