Some of you know my dad, Sergio Bondi. Most haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him. But if you do know him, he really has one of those personalities that you won’t ever forget. He’s kind without fault and literally would go completely out of his way to help someone out. He’s honestly the most genuine person I’ve ever met. (My brother and I are always asking each other how we came from someone so nice and honest when we can be such scheming little brats.)
This past summer, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a deadly cancer with vague and unobvious symptoms. The only way we found out was because he caught a cold and my mom’s persistent (and boy, are we grateful for how infallibly determined she can be) nagging that made him finally go to the doctor for a check-up.
We were lucky we found it “early.” Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a fast-acting cancer; it doesn’t have stages. It just happens.
My dad went right in and started an intense chemo therapy treatment. He handled it like a boss, and we are happy to say that it was effective. He’s currently in remission.
But this type of cancer can come back and likely will. To stop that, he needs to have a bone marrow transplant. And in order to have a bone marrow transplant, you need a bone marrow donor that is a match. Usually, doctors test siblings. My dad has one brother, and he’s only a half-match. My brother and I are only half matches as well. We’re looking for a full match.
This is where I ask for the huge favor, and honestly, the only real big favor I’d ask of you. Become a donor. I know when someone sees “donor,” they think about their organs. But becoming a bone marrow donor just means parting from a few stem cells. It’s not an invasive procedure, and becoming a bone marrow donor is quite simple.
BeTheMatch.org is the National Bone Marrow Donor Program. You can join the registry online or in person by visiting a local registry drive near you. Even if you don’t match my dad, you can help others defeat this terrible disease. You can help CURE someone, CURE a cancer. How can you say no to that?
If becoming a donor isn’t something you can or want to do, then I ask that you use your voice. Share this message. Spread the word.
My dad’s diagnosis turned my family’s life upside down. I had yet to be so personally impacted by cancer. It’s frightening and unreal and I just can’t believe it happened. But it did, and I’m going to do my best to help my dad and others. I hope you consider helping too. J
If you have any questions or thoughts to share, please feel free to tweet or DM at @GabrielleAdelle on Twitter.
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