Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Wynn | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Krystal Matlock, the 673d Operational Medical Readiness...... read more read more
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Volunteers with the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program will host a bone marrow registry drive May 17 through 28 on JBER.
Also known as Salute to Life, the program was established in 1991 to provide service members the flexibility and ease of signing up for the bone marrow donor registry.
"Since its creation in 1991, our program has registered over one million DoD beneficiaries," said Chad Ballance, a DoD Marrow Donor Program recruiter. "I've been a part of this program for 22 years [because of] one child. I tried to save that child's life by finding them a match, but unfortunately, I was not able to do that. That child has been a motivation and inspiration for me to wake up every morning and not lose another life."
Two U.S. Air Force technical sergeants assigned to the 673d Medical Group are coordinating the drive, with one having been called upon to donate in 2019.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Krystal Matlock, the 673d Operational Medical Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of bioenvironmental engineering operations, was put on the Salute to Life registry in 2011 and recalls the moment she got the call.
"At the time, I had so many thoughts running through my head. I was filled with excitement and fear," Krystal said. "I was advised the donation was for a 10-year-old little girl in need. I knew right then I couldn’t say no; I am a mother myself and would hope that if my child or loved one ever needed help, and there was a match, they would be willing to help as well."
Salute to Life is open to all active-duty, National Guard, Reserve, DoD employees, and family members, with the only requirements to register as a volunteer is to be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 60.
Krystal went through multiple physicals and checks to ensure she was a match. Then, the couple traveled to San Diego, California, for the donation procedure. Salute to Life covered travel, lodging, and food expenses, and ensured her children had proper care.
"The program paid for all costs to include travel, lodging, and meals for me and my spouse, as well as travel costs for my mother to come from Texas to Alaska to watch our children," Krystal said.
Krystal's story touched other military members, and several Airmen and Soldiers have stepped up as volunteer unit representatives to spread the word and get JBER personnel registered.
"Tech. Sgt. Krystal Matlock told me about her process of donating bone marrow, and it's something I've always wanted to do," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alex Shuttleworth, a 673d OMRS noncommissioned officer in charge of radiation element. "When she told me they were trying to organize a large bone marrow drive, I asked if I could join in."
A common misconception is that registering means being called on to donate -- but as few as one in 430 donors may be contacted as a potential match, Ballance explained. To be a match, donors and their patients have to match various factors, including ethnicity. Therefore, the registry must have as wide a demographic base as possible.
"If you're of mixed race, your chances of finding a match can dwindle to the teens and single-digit percentages," said Ballance. "We need to have more folks in our registry who can match up with children like the one I wasn't able to save years ago."
More than 30 JBER volunteers in several units are equipped with donor kits to register as many JBER personnel as possible during the drive. There will also be representatives at the Exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays for the duration of the drive.
If you would like to register, or have questions, talk to your unit's volunteer representative, visit https://www.salutetolife.org, or reach out to Tech. Sgt. John Matlock at (907) 580-3136 or Tech. Sgt. Krystal Matlock at (907) 384-3985.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2021 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 396514 |
| Location: | JBER, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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