Thanks for asking about donating blood for Kenna Coerper.

Our 2 ½ year old has aplastic anemia—her bone marrow has stopped producing blood cells. She is being treated with strong anti-viral meds, but only time will tell if this will be successful. It will be very reassuring to know that the supplies will be adequate when she must regularly have transfusions in the coming months to elevate her cell count--especially platelets which only live a few days.

If you are A+, on your first visit you will be tested to see if you are a match for her. The typing takes about 4 days. Then you would be asked to donate if you are compatible. They are not testing for bone marrow at this point.

The Donor Center at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is open through lunch:

Mon & Thurs 10am -5:30pm

Tues & Wed 11:30am - 7pm

Friday 8am - 3:30 pm

The number is 562-933-0808 to make an appointment.

Take Atlantic Blvd south off the 405 freeway. The main parking lot is after Columbia St.

They validate at the ground floor (basement) Donor Center.

We will receive a notification that blood has been donated on Kenna's behalf.

If you want more information about Kenna's illness, or if a bone marrow transplant becomes necessary and you want to potentially help her, or others in similar situations, take a look at this site and consider getting registered now. The doctors feel there would probably be a good chance for a match for Kenna, but they say there is especially a shortage of non-Caucasian groups in the registry.

http://www.marrow.org

We thank you immensely,

Mary Jane Bartee and the Coerper Family

714-894-8434 mjbsub@socal.rr.com