In 2007, Maya Chamberlain was a three-year-old in need of a bone marrow transplant. She was diagnosed with HLH (hemophagocylic lymphohistiocytosis), and without a bone marrow donor, her chances of survival were slim. Her family turned to fellow members of Christ Episcopal Church for help and a matching bone marrow donor was found.
In 2010, Maya’s father Sam was able to report to church members: “Maya is now cured of her disease. She now gets to do many of the things that she used to enjoy before she got sick, like reading, singing, dancing, teaching her little brother to read. All this was only possible because a person unselfishly donated their bone marrow. The donor was found in the National Marrow Donor Program registry. Without their donation Maya would not be with us today, making us laugh and bringing us joy every day and every moment.”
On Friday, Sept. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., the now healthy seven-year-old will be on hand to welcome guests to the Collections 2 Save Lives art show. Guests from ages 18 to 44 will be invited to take a simple swab test so their bone marrow type can be registered with BeTheMatch.com, a national bone marrow registry. Proceeds from the art sale will donated to the registry. The show will continue on Saturday, Sept. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christ Episcopal is at 408 South Broadway in Redondo Beach. For more information or to volunteer, contact Barbara ramsey-Duke at (310) 251-6830.
