Alina, Mrs. Mitchel, Mrs.Currie and Letty

My co-worker Letty and I had the pleasure of holding a bone marrow drive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this past Tuesday, February 2, 2010 and hosted by Stillman College. This drive was held in honor of Franklin Geer, a young man that lost his battle to leukemia after complications from a less than perfect matched bone marrow transplant. It was also to honor patients like Jennifer Jones, an extraordinary individual that has spent most of her live giving to the community, and is now in need of the community to give back to her. Mrs. Jones was recently diagnosed with leukemia and like thousands of other patients across the country, now waits for her miracle in a compatible bone marrow donor.

Stillman College warmly welcomed us and we immediately felt like part of their family. This quaint college atmosphere was filled with energy, respect and willing hearts, but what impressed us the most was how the staff knew all their students by name. That is the blessing of a small college, a family away from home. However this event would not have been possible without the collaboration of several passionate ladies that were willing to make a difference in their community. Ladies like, Mrs. Mitchel, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. James and Mrs. Currie. Ladies that worked diligently to bring hope to those in need and took time away from their activities to make this happen.

Mrs. Currie our hostess was not only enthusiastic about our event, but she offered a wealth of information of how we can continue to reach other college campuses. Mrs. Curries a breast cancer survivor and seasoned educator understand the importance of our efforts in bringing awareness to minority students and of their lack of involvement in the national bone marrow registry. It would be wonderful if other colleges and university throughout the country copied Stillman’s attitude and opened their doors to organization like ours, Icla da Silva so we might continue to bring this life saving information to their campuses.

We have already made plans to return to Stillman College in the future, however we will coordinate our bone marrow drive around their chapel chicken event and thus take the opportunity to enjoy a real southern meal.

As to Mrs. Mitchel, she continues to grief about the loss of her only son Franklin but is determined to bring hope to other patients and their families. In her efforts to bring hope, she finds peace and slowly begins to heal.

This event was a perfect example of teamwork at its best. Although it is always our desires to have 100% participation in every event, that is not always the case, however we continue to be grateful for all those that took the time from their busy schedules and stop by to join this humble cause. Letty and I continue to pray that we might reach all those donors that have the power to help, the power to heal and the power to give hope to others.