CAZENOVIA -- With a simple swab, Sarah Sequin joined more than 130 others who came out to see if they could be a bone marrow match for 17-year-old Taylor Matt. Sarah says, "My little sister just had a friend die so I definitely wanna do what I can to help out."
Taylor Matt was diagnosed with Leukemia five years ago and then had a recurrence this summer. For the second time, her family can't find a bone marrow match because of her unique Native American background. An avid lacrosse player, Monday night's bone marrow drive was held where many of her friends play. Her father, Jeff Matt, says, "They all miss her, she'd be out there right now."
Dozens of fellow lacrosse players are too young to meet the requirements that a donor be 18 years old. Instead, they signed up for training, raising more than $1,000 for the Matt family. "Anything we can do to support Taylor and help her find a match, its just seeing everyone show up today, it's amazing," says friend and lacrosse player Lindsey Nourse.
Monday night's drive isn't the first that's being held for Taylor and since these began, hundreds have come out to sign up and be part of the National Bone Marrow Registry. Taylor's parents say while they wait for a match for Taylor, it's great to know countless others could be helped. Jeff Matt says, "Although we'd obviously like to find a match for Taylor, who knows the countless lives we're saving by getting people out here to register."
As people continue to pour in and register. Taylor's parents say they're hoping for a Christmas miracle. It takes about four to six weeks for information at bone marrow drives like Monday's to be processed. Taylor's doctors have access to the registry, so they'll know when a match has been found.
Stay with Action News as more bone marrow registry dates become available.
