HOLSTEIN, IOWA (KTIV) -
Patients with life-threatening diseases-- like leukemia, and lymphoma-- depend on bone marrow transplants for a cure.
Family members make the best match, but strangers can donate, too.
For people like Amy Vohs, dealing with a loved one's life-threatening illness can be very difficult. Her father in-law, Jeff Vohs, was diagnosed with leukemia six years ago. Something he's battled ever since.
Amy Vohs, daughter-in-law said, "He has now got a new form called Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is a more serious form."
Vohs has been at the Mayo Clinic for the last six weeks. His only hope: New bone marrow.
Amy Vohs, daughter in-law, "When we found out that he got re diagnosed with Leukemia, that he was going to need a bone marrow transplant, pretty much to save his life. They had done the primary search and he didn't have any matches."
So family and friends dug a little deeper only to find that a lot of patients in the area don't have matches. They then took matters into their own hands, putting on a drive to raise awareness, and encourage donors.
Donor Denise Conover added, "We know Jeff Vohs very well, we've known him a long time and wanted to come out and help support and hopefully help encourage others to come and donate too and help save lives."
And now the entire community of Holstein is behind them.
Jeff's sister, Lisa Tjaden said, "The community has just been awesome. There has just been so much support, all kinds of food has been brought in and donated, silent auction items, it's just unbelievable the community support that has been shown here in Holstein.
That support had people flocking to the town's hall. And trying to help families like the Vohs', donating might not take as long as you think. With three short stations set up, donors go to station one to gather information. Station two is where they can register for the event.
Conover said, "Painless, very simple, fast. Just rubbing the sticks on your cheeks, inside your cheeks, and that was it."
And just like that, you could be the perfect match to save someone's life.
Vohs said, "To know that the whole community is behind Jeff has helped in his motivation in fighting this."
For information on how you can help, call 1-(800)-MARROW-2
