A 44-year -old Livingston man diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia is in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant, and is seeking a match.
Oren Warter, father of three, was recently diagnosed with Acute Myologenous Leukemia (AML) and is currently undergoing intense chemotherapy to stabilize his body. Warter’s family is seeking a perfect match and is holding a donor recruitment drive at Temple Bnai Abraham, at 300 Northfield Rd (entrance on East Cedar) in Livingston NJ on December 21, 2014 from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
The drive — “Warter Strong” — will register potential bone marrow donors on behalf of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation to help Oren and many others as well.
Warter’s wife, Barbara, has written a personal letter to appeal for help from her husband:
If anyone knows me, they know I am the kind of person who wants to help others. What some would perceive as chaos, I see as “a day in the life”. I am happy to have a houseful of family and friends and love nothing more than entertaining and supporting the people I love. I am the kind of person who manages a life most would think impossible, raising three boys (ha) and especially dealing with the issues that come from raising a special needs and medically fragile child.
I hope people see me and Oren as the kind of people who appreciate our blessings and are grateful for all the small things life has to offer because those are the most important values we try and teach our children.
But for the first time, I feel like I need to reach out for help. Oren Warter, my husband of 18 years and the father of our three beautiful boys, Ryan, Zachary and Jake (14, 11 and 6) is fighting.
Last month, Oren went in for a routine procedure and was then diagnosed with Acute Myologenous Leukemia (AML). He is on intensive chemotherapy and fighting his way to remission but we are told this fight is just phase one. Oren will need a life-saving bone marrow transplant to really attack the AML.
Many people don’t understand how this works. The problem is that the there are cancerous white blood cells crowding out Oren’s healthy cells. Chemotherapy alone won’t stop this. Oren literally needs new bone marrow. That’s where you come in. This type of transplant requires a donor. I am asking you to please get tested, please donate, please help. You could be Oren’s perfect match or someone else’s husband, father, wife or mother.
Oren is honestly one of the smartest, strongest most dedicated people I know. He has always been the quiet strength and rock behind me and our family and I cannot count the times he has literally held us together when faced with a crisis. There are no words to describe Oren’s unwavering resolve to tackle Leukemia head on in face of what would make most others crumble. He is “in this to win this” and sees no other option.
How can you help?
1) Attend the drive on December 21
2) Encourage high school or college age students to come and get swabbed, because the younger a donor is the better.
3) Make a tax-deductible donation to “Warter Strong” at www.gol.org/dc/warter. One hundred percent of your donation will be used to process test kits.
It takes just ten seconds to have the inside of your cheek painlessly swabbed. Also, over 80% of bone marrow donations are stem cell donations, similar to giving blood. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60 and in general good health, you are eligible to be screened and join the worldwide registry.
The family is asking people to pass along this information to others, via email and social media. The more people who know, the more people can help.
Over 80% of donations are through stem cell donation and are similar to giving blood, according to Gift of Life. If you are between the ages of 18 and 50 and in general good health, you are eligible to be screened and join the worldwide registry. Please take the time by doing this small act of kindness that could yield enormous help.
How can you help?
1) Come to the drive on December 21!
2) If you have high school or college age kids who are home on break, encourage them to come and get swabbed as well. The younger the donor the better.
3) Consider making a tax-deductible donation (www.gol.org/dc/warter). This directly links you “Warter Strong”. 100% of your donation will be used to process test kits.
Please pass this information along. Forward emails. Share on your Facebook page. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, temples, churches and schools. The more who know the more who can help.
