Southeast Area : Tissue Donor Sought for Young Leukemia Patient
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The American Red Cross is searching for a bone marrow donor to help save a 15-year-old leukemia patient.
Hector Garcia, who was found to have the disease in 1988, does not have a relative with matching tissue, so an unrelated donor must be found, officials said.
A testing site will be set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Katherine Edwards Intermediate School, 6812 S. Norwalk Blvd., near Whittier. The patient is a former student at that school.
The initial test requires two tablespoons of blood. If there is a match, potential donors must undergo further tests.
Red Cross officials said the chance of finding a matching donor for Garcia is highest among Latinos. However, a donor could come from another ethnic group.
Garcia underwent chemotherapy for three years. His disease was in remission for seven months, but he is now critically ill, officials said.
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