Genesee Community College Assistant Professor of History Garth Swanson has a lot to be thankful for. Two years ago his toddler son, Anders, underwent treatment for a life-threatening brain tumor at the University of Rochester's Medical Center and he has been brought into remission and cancer-free for two years.
Swanson is showing his gratefulness and "paying it forward" by donating his stem cells to a complete stranger. He recently donated stem cells at the Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester and a 58-year-old man with leukemia will receive the cells. The Wilmot Cancer Center offers the only program in the area for bone-marrow or stem-cell transplants.
Swanson, from Stafford, is familiar with donating marrow, as his 4-year-old son did it during treatment for a pineoblastoma at Golisano Children's Hospital. Doctors retrieved Anders' cells early in his treatment regimen of high-dose chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery and later used the stem cells to jump-start his bone-marrow production.
Swanson's act of kindness was recently featured on channel 13 WHAM News. The full
story as well video can be found at:
<http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Giving-a-Precious-Gift-to-Someone-Hes
-Never-Met/ELUjUpuI4EG858nsvE0kHA.cspx>.
Swanson and his wife, Amy, joined the Be The Match Registry, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, a few years back in support of a girl from Elba in need of a transplant. He was contacted as a potential donor once before, but wasn't a perfect match. To join the Be The Match Registry or to find the nearest marrow drive, visit: <http://www.marrow.org>.
"I would love to encourage everyone to sign up for the National Marrow Donor
registry," Swanson said. "It is my hope that we can hold a donor drive event
at the college in the near future."
For the University of Rochester Medical Center's coverage please visit:
<http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=2798>.
