Rather than waiting for a single family to accumulate $30,000 - $60,000 in a fund, this fund combines the gifts of several individuals or families to create a research grant. Gifts to this fund are combined with gifts from other donors; once the fund reaches $60,000, a research grant award is made. Distinct funds exist for aplastic anemia aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… , MDS, PNH, and general bone marrow failure bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… disease research to allow donors to direct their gifts as specifically as is important to them.
As James Slattery, an MDS survivor who is supporting the MDS Research is Hope Fund, puts it, “My goal is to keep on trekking, to continue my support of bone marrow failure disease research, and to work towards finding a cure for all of us. I hope that this may encourage you to enrich your own life by supporting the research efforts of the MDS Research is Hope Fund. I think that you will find it rewarding too.”
Our thanks to the following patients and families for being champions of this 2012-2014 MDS grant:
- Frances and Gunther Heussman
- The Family of Mary Lou and Manual Palacio
- William and Marion Shulevitz
- James Slattery
- Carol and Peter Stewart in memory of her father, Raymond
Research is Hope donors will receive annual updates on research funded through their support.
If you'd like further information, or to make your gift to the Aplastic Anemia, MDS, PNH, or Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research is Hope Fund, email Julie Lowe at lowe@aamds.org or call (301) 279-7202 x103.