Bone Marrow Drive Scheduled For Dec. 17; Results May Help Sandy Hook Resident

By Shannon Hicks

Michael Heneghan was married on September 1. Three weeks later he found out that he is in for the fight of his life.

Mr Heneghan, a former Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue firefighter, was diagnosed in September with myelodysplastic syndrome. A preleukemia condition, the only treatment for MDS is a bone marrow transplant. Among other setbacks, the diagnosis has put Mr Heneghan’s plans to attend the Connecticut State Police Academy on hold for the time being.

The good news is, Newtown and area residents have an opportunity to help Mr Heneghan and others with similar conditions next week when a bone marrow drive is held at Dodgingtown Firehouse. Anyone interested in joining the registry of The National Marrow Donor Program is invited to visit the firehouse, 55 Dodgingtown Road (Route 302), on Monday, December 17, between 4 and 7 pm.

“This is not just for me,” Mr Heneghan said this week. “Registrants will be joining the National Marrow Donor Program [NMDP], which could help me or some other individual. It could save someone else’s life.”

To join the registry, there is a $25 fee, “a little bit of paperwork,” said Mr Heneghan, and then a swab test. Firefighters and police personnel will be tested for free.

Upon joining the NMDP Registry, donors make a commitment to be listed on the registry until their 61st birthday (unless they ask to be removed); to consider donating to any searching patient who matches the donor’s tissue type; to keep the registry updated of address changes and/or any significant health changes; and to respond quickly if contacted as a potential match for a patient.

While those who register can remain active until their 61st birthday, it is certainly permissible to opt off the list at any time.

“You have the right to change your mind about being a donor at any time,” says the NMDP website. “Donating is always voluntary.”

The bone marrow screening in Dodgingtown was set up by Steve Murphy, a fellow firefighter and friend of Mr Heneghan’s.

Appointments are not necessary for the screening. Additional information is available, however, by calling NMDP at 800-MARROW2 (800-627-7692) or going online to marrow.org.

For those who are unable to become a bone marrow donor or for anyone who would like to help financially in addition to undergoing the bone marrow drive, a fund has been set up to help Mr Heneghan cover his expected health care costs. Donations can be sent to Mike’s Marrow Fund c/o Western CT Federal Credit Union, 15 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook CT 06482.

Additional information about that fund is available by called WCFCU at 426-5056. Receipts can be sent to contributors upon request.

In patients with MDS, the bone marrow stops making healthy blood cells and instead produces abnormal, poorly functioning blood cells. “Myelo” refers to bone marrow and “dysplasia” means abnormal.

MDS can affect red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; platelets, which prevent bleeding; or any combination of the three.

As the number of healthy cells decline in a patient’s body, he or she may be prone to anemia (a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells), infections caused by low counts of disease-fighting white blood cells, and bruising and bleeding, resulting from low levels of blood platelets.