Sheriff Ortiz to make 13-year-old Leukemia Patient Honorary Sheriff

SAN ANTONIO (August 12, 2011) — Thirteen-year-old Lily Lopez is battling leukemia and searching for her lifesaving marrow donor. In an effort to help Lopez find her match, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) is partnering with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) to host an employee marrow registration drive and will announce Lopez as “Honorary Sheriff for the Day”.

Press Conference
WHAT:      Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz makes Lily Lopez Honorary Sheriff
WHEN:      Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 • 10am
WHERE:    Bexar County Adult Detention Center
                   200 N. Comal, San Antonio, TX 78207

“The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is proud to join HAPCOA in an effort to save lives by identifying potential bone marrow donors within our ranks. The lives of people with leukemia and other types of blood cancers are on the line: people like Lily Lopez need your help to survive against tough odds. We urge all our employees to register to see if you qualify to be a donor,” said Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz.

Lopez was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2010 and her only hope for a cure is a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor. Approximately 70 percent of patients like Lopez do not have a match with in their family. They depend on the Be The Match Registry to find their lifesaving donor in the community.

While there are nine million people on the registry, more minority registrants are needed to help minority patients like Lopez. For example, Hispanic or Latino patients have an estimated 72 percent likelihood of having a donor on the registry; African American patients have 66 percent likelihood, while Caucasian patients have a 93 percent chance.

“[Hispanics] do not register because it’s a lack of knowing that they can save a life,” said Luis Lopez, Lily’s father. “They do not know that they can give families hope of saving a child’s life.”

Registering consists of filling out paperwork and swabbing your cheek. By registering, you make yourself available to a patient who might one day need you. You must be between 18 and 60 years old and in good general health to join the Be The Match Registry. You can register at any STBTC neighborhood site. Visit southtexasblood.org for more information.

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