Campaign "Benjamin Guerreiro" looking for bone marrow donors

With the "Benjamin Guerreiro" campaign, family and friends are looking for a 100% compatible bone marrow donor. Benjamin Diego Santana Alves, 6, suffers from Aqueous Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

For nearly two months in Aracaju (SE), mother Marta Helle Santana Alves and the boy returned to El Salvador to resume treatment diagnosed in 2015. "The process was very complicated." We did all the chemotherapy treatment He was released, so we decided to change, but the return of the disease was very fast, "he says.

Campaign

" We do not have to go back. " had no idea what EVER was, but we decided to dive deeply. Today, we are in dialogue with other families of children in a similar situation and we have created the campaign, "says the mother.

Everything changes the functioning of the defense cells of the bodies, such as white blood cells that fight infections, and platelets that prevent bleeding.

"The campaign had a low adherence. Sometimes it is discouraging, but remember that there are many hands that get there, "he reveals. The mother said that last week a sister's work colleague did the exams. "He was mastered, thinking" my God, I'm going to save a life! ", But it was not 100% compatible.When I hear that, I'm packing "

The mother manages with the relatives the profiles in the social networks Facebook and Instagram of the" Benjamin Warrior "In them, the mother informs the needs of the boy and celebrates the donors

"Often companies indicate a lot of employees. I even have a parent who drives to interest people. It takes people to do the compatibility tests and blood donations, "he reports.

Donation

According to data from the National Register of Voluntary Bone Marrow Donors (Redome), 4,629,147 are registered nationally. In Bahia, there are 156,406 registered donors. However, like Benjamin, 673 patients enrolled in the National Register of Bone Marrow Recipients (REREM) are still waiting for compatible donors. To date, 8,143 new donors have been registered in Bahia.

According to the hematologist Marco Aurélio Salvino, coordinator of the São Rafael Hospital's bone marrow transplant center (HSR), which accompanies the case, when the chemotherapy treatment does not show any cure, it is necessary to perform the transplant. "In many cases, the chemotherapy treatment is resolved, in which case the most appropriate method is bone marrow transplantation," he explains.

For the transplant, the family is looking for a donor that is compatible with To date, Rereme has managed 192. "It's a genetic lottery. In many cases, we expect to find in our own family, but this does not always happen, "says the hematologist.

To register, interested persons should contact the Foundation of Hematology and Hemotherapy of the State of Bahia (Hemoba), Vasco da Gama Avenue, near the State General Hospital (HGE). It must meet the criteria of being between 18 and 55 years old and in good health.

After registration, the Hemoba sends to Redome. In the case of compatible donors, people are activated and can perform the transplant in the state's reference unit. "Contrary to what everyone thinks, the procedure does not eliminate the bone marrow, but the liquid (marrow) that is there.There is no risk of paraplegia or The only risk is the joy of saving a life, "says Salvino.

* Edited by the publisher Juracy of the Angels