Imagine having everything to live for--two beautiful children, a loving husband and loyal friends--and then finding out in a flash that your life is literally dependent on the kindness of a stranger. This is what is happening to my dear friend and neighbor Lisa Gershowitz Flynn. Lisa is 41 and is looking for a bone marrow match to save her life. Lisa was recently diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), a fast-moving version of the disease. She was immediately hospitalized and has gone through three rounds of chemotherapy in the past two months. Unfortunately the treatments have not put her into full remission, and it is now critical for her to have a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Her family has searched donor banks worldwide, with some close matches, but has not yet found a match that can help save Lisa. After working frantically over the past few weeks to find Lisa a match, I have become aware how important it is to grow the national registry. 
There are not enough potential donors in the Bone Marrow Registry, in fact 80% of those who search the registries never find a match. There is truly a need to educate people so they can understand how simple it is to save a life. Testing is simple, painless and fast. It's only a registration form and a cheek swab. The doctors are fully confident that there is a match for Lisa--it's just a matter of getting more people tested. There are so many misconceptions about bone marrow donation and the availability of genetic matches to patients in need.
- 13,410 people contract AML each year
Thousands of strangers have already mobilized to save Lisa's life and battle this horrible disease. We are organizing drives throughout the country to find a match for Lisa. Testing kits can easily be ordered online free of charge. For information on ordering a kit and upcoming donor drives visit www.giftforlisa.com.
Here's a note from Lisa:
Dear Friends, Family, Volunteers & Supporters,
There are truly no words to thank you and all the people who have responded to the call for donors. I am overwhelmed and amazed by the showing of support and caring. I don't know how to adequately express how much it means to me, and how it makes me all that much more determined to fight this and kick it for good.
My doctors say that the most important thing for me now is to find a match quickly, and with the huge number of people getting tested, I have no doubt that we will find someone who will save my life. It is no small thing to ask, and I am so thankful to everyone who has been willing to be tested.
I wish I had better words, but I don't know how to say thank you to someone who has volunteered to try to save my life.
Much love,
Lisa