Community Corner

Blood Drive to Benefit Wyckoff's Mike O'Shea

The father of three was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in March

The Wyckoff Family YMCA is hosting a blood drive in honor of Wyckoff resident Mike O’Shea on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

"Mike, a husband and father of three young children, was diagnosed in March 2012 with acute myelogenous leukemia," according to Wyckoff YMCA Sports Director Pat O'Hagan. 

Following an aggressive cycle of chemotherapy, Mike underwent a stem cell transplant on June 28, he said. 

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The donor was found through the National Marrow Donor Program and, although the transplant was initially successful, after several months of recovery Mike started experiencing fevers and back pain, O'Hagan said.

A recent bone marrow biopsy revealed that he had relapsed and the leukemia was coming back.  

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O'Shea was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering awaiting another aggressive round of chemotherapy, followed by weeks of recovery, O'Hagan said last week. 

"Once Mike is again in remission he will have to endure a second stem cell transplant," O'Hagan said. "To make this possible another bone marrow donor needs to be found."

At the blood and bone marrow donor drive, walk-ins are welcome according to the O'Shea family site, but to ensure enough technician coverage, "it would be helpful if you could pre-register online at http://www.appointment-plus.com/."

Those looking to pre-register should use the login "ymca" and password the password "ymca123" and input their desired time and personal info.

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