Katelyn Bedard
Sadly, nobody in the bone marrow registry was a match for Katie. She never received the bone marrow transplant she desperately needed and in June, 2005, little Katie earned her angel wings. She was only 3 and a half years old.
If only there had been a match for Katie in the bone marrow registry. If only more people were aware of the desperate need for bone marrow donors. Please help:
Join the bone marrow registry today
Spread the word - Tell your friends and family.
Events
8th Annual John Fox Memorial Charity Golf Tournament
Shotgun Start 10:00am
Click here for details.
6th Annual Day to Remember Golf Tournament
Shotgun Start 11:00am
Click here for details.
4th Annual Bowling for Bone Marrow
Check-in at 12:00pm
Click here for details.
Make a Donation
Show Your Support
Men's white T-Shirt with Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association logo on front and website address on back.
$15.99 - Order Here
Woman's white T-Shirt with Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association logo on front and website address on back. $15.99 - Order Here
White medium sized coffee mug with the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association logo and website address printed on it. $12.99 - Order Here
Join The Registry
I Joined The Registry...
Click here to sign the "I Joined" guestbook.
Here are the last few people that signed the guestbook:
London, ON
Joined 2008 (1 year)
Newmarket, ONTARIO
Joined 2009
Harrow, ON
Joined 2009
brea, CA
Joined 2009
Belle River, ONTARIO
Joined 2009
a complete list.
Video
Our YouTube video provides some basic information about the bone marrow registry and why it is critical that people of all ethnic backgrounds join the registry today.
Photos
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
Find out more HERE!
Our 2009 summer newsletter will be mailed out in June.
Thank you to the more than 60 golfers that came out to the 8th Annual John Fox Memorial on Saturday May 30, 2009. The weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed the golf and the amazing prize table. The event was very successful and raised $4,600 in support of KBBMA.
Our sincere thanks to the many hole and prize sponsors as well. The success of this day is only possible with your gracious support!
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Twenty-eight year-old Robin Rocca was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2008 and needs a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, his siblings are not a match. The once active Italian-Canadian from St. John New Brunswick is desperately looking for a donor.
Want to help Robin? Please join the bone marrow registry.
Click here to read the full article in Tandem Magazine.
Click here to join Robin's Facebook group.
Natasha Collins is an outstanding 26-year-old Yale medical student who is battling leukemia for the second time, and she needs your help to save her life.
At the age of 23, Natasha was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). After two years of treatment, followed by a cord blood transplant, Natasha came to the Yale School of Medicine to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, during her first year as a medical student Natasha was re-diagnosed with leukemia. She braved chemotherapy, and now she needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.
Bone marrow transplant is a powerful tool to cure cancer; however, racial minorities are at a severe disadvantage for finding marrow matches. Because of the small number of minority registrants, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry can provide matches for 80% of Caucasians but only 30% of minorities.
Natasha is half African-American and half Caucasian, making her a part of this molecular minority. She has no match in the NMDP Registry. You can give real hope and even life to Natasha and thousands like her by registering to become a potential bone marrow donor.
To help, join the bone marrow registry.
Click here to join Natasha's Facebook group.
Click here to view Natasha’s YouTube video.
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
The Univesity of Montreal's Research in Immunology and Cancer has succeeded in producing a large quantity of laboratory stem cells from a small number of blood stem cells.
The implications of this research are particularly important for stem cell transplants using umbilical cord blood stem cells. The amount of stem cells found in cord blood is often enough to treat an infant or child but not always sufficient for adult patients. This new finding means it could be possible to use cord blood stem cells to treat more adults.
To read more:
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Alex Normandin, 26, was diagnosed with MS nearly 2 years ago. The young medical student thought he had time since MS usually progresses slowly. He learned that he had an agressive form and would probably be in a wheel chair within months.
Alex was accepted into an experimental program to treat his MS with a stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplants are often used as treatment for blood disorders such as leukemia. The patient is given high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to destroy their bone marrow. The transplant provides new stem cells without the disease.
Twenty four people were part of this experimental study done in Ottawa by bone marrow transplant expert Harold Atkins and MS neurologist Mark Freedman. Alex is patient 19, he received his transplant in December 2008.
Thankfully, Alex's stem cell transplant has worked. The MS appears to have stopped its progression and Alex feels his co-ordination and strength improving.
To read the full article in the Vancouver Sun click here.
To read more on Alex Normandin's story, click here.
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Ken Houston from Amherstburg, Ontario!
The Quilt of Hope Raffle was drawn Tuesday, April 14 at CAW Local 1973 Hall in Windsor. The winner of the quilt is Ken Houston of Amherstburg, Ontario. Our sincere thanks to Mrs. Joanne Smulders and her fellow quilters "Three Generations" for donating this beautiful hand-made quilt. Congratulations to Ken and our thanks to everyone that purchased tickets. The Quilt of Hope Raffle raised over $3,500 in support of KBBMA.
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
James, a 24 year-old from Vaughan, Ontario was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia on January 21, 2009. Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure disease in which the body's bone marrow doesn't make enough new blood cells. Symptoms of Aplastic Anemia can inlcude: increased bleeding, bruising, susceptibilty to infections, shortness of breath, fatigue, ringing in the ears, to name a few.
The only cure for Severe Aplastic Anemia is a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately James' sisters were not a match for him. He launched a website to increase awareness about his disease and encourage people to join One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Newtwork. On April 8th, James posted the following message to his web site:.
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 16:16
They Found A Match!!!!
"Hey everyone... Just wanted to let you know they found a perfect match!! 10 out of 10. The doctor told me yesterday morning at PMH and I was ecstatic. It is such a relief to know there is someone out there that could potentially save my life. I want to thank everyone for their continued support throughout this journey... It is because of all of you that we have received this good news. Everyone from friends, family, family in Italy, the Church, and even total strangers pulled together and spread my story urging people to become a donor... Someone out there listened and my family and I couldn't be happier. From the bottom of my heart, thank you... I will never forget what many of you did for me and for that I am eternally grateful."
We encourage you to visit James web site http://www.livingwithaplasticanemia.com to read his story and to learn more about Aplastic Anemia.
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Attention golfers! Come out and enjoy a round of golf and help bone marrow transplant patients. Two upcoming golf tournaments are supporting Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association. Both tournaments offer a great time for all and a chance to win some wonderful prizes.
For golfers near Windsor, Ontario, the 8th Annual John Fox Memorial will be held Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at Tilbury Golf Club. Shotgun start at 10:00am, $95 per person includes golf, power cart dinner and prizes. Phone 519-564-4119 to register. Proceeds to KBBMA. More info.
For golfers near London, Ontario, the 6th Annual Day to Remember Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at Wardsville Golf and Country Club. Shotgun start at 11:00am, 4 person scramble, $80 includes 18 holes of golf, power cart, steak dinner and prizes. $65 includes 9 holes of golf, power cart, steak dinner and prizes. Phone 519-652-0372 to register. Proceeds to Camp Trillium and KBBMA. More info.
Monday, March 2nd, 2009
KBBMA volunteers braved a February winter storm and ventured out to Devonshire Mall in Windsor this Saturday. Many shoppers stopped by our booth to purchase tickets for the Quilt of Hope Raffle and to receive information about bone marrow and cord blood donation. Our sincere thanks to the volunteers that took time from their busy schedule to help.
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association would like to thank the Lakeshore Academy of Fine Arts for their generous donation. The Lakeshore Academy of Fine Arts invited local elementary schools for a special performance of The Nutcracker Prince. The proceeds of this perfomance were donated to the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association. A special thank you to the schools and the parents for allowing their children to participate in this event. We send our applause to the LAFA Alumni for their spectacular performance. It was a very special day.
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