A stem cell donor drive is planned for Charley Bauer on Saturday, July 20 from 11am to 4 pm at Tam-O-Shanter. The Southview graduate and current nursing student at The Ohio State University, was diagnosed in May with Acute Myelaoid Leukemia. The event is hosted by Teresa and Jessica Walkovich to help find Charley a perfect match for a stem cell/bone marrow transplant (similar to blood donation or Aperesis). The perfect 10/10 match or genetic twin, between the ages of 18-38 years, is very difficult to find.
Test kits for the event will be provided by DKMS, an international nonprofit dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders. Testing to find a match is done with a simple cheek swab for people between the ages of 18 to 55 years, who will then join the database. Those interested in the testing who are unable to attend the event will find a QR code on the flyer with more information on how to get a swab mailed to their home with return postage included.
DKMS fully compensates the donor and a companion for travel, meals, work missed, pet care, meds and health care associated with donaton. Last winter, Jessica Walkovich donated her stem cells for a complete stranger who was her genetic twin. Charley’s mother, Alyssa Bauer, is a kindergarten teacher at Stranahan. Her father, Jeremy, was a principal in Sylvania and currently works for Ottawa Hills and her brother Jack will be a senior at Southview this fall. A Go Fund Me has been set up for the Bauer Family to help with the medical and living expenses as they have had to temporarily relocate to Columbus.