Community Corner

Ridgewood Environmentalist Needs Stem Cell Match

Registration drive this weekend hopes to zero in on matching donor.

A donor registry drive this weekend could help find a Ridgewood resident and business owner the rare stem cell match needed in his battle against cancer.

Ed Schwartz, an active environmentalist, owner of environmental consulting firm Green Living Solutions and member of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on Nov. 4.

To combat the rare and aggressive blood cancer, stem cell transplants from a donor closely matching the patient’s tissue type are needed to aid recovery from radiation treatments.

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Participating in the registry drive, similar to the one held last month for village resident Anthony Daniels, consists of a simple cheek swab to determine whether potential donors match Schwartz’s tissue type.

Anyone ages 18-44 can register Sunday, Jan. 5 at Temple Israel located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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According to Community Blood Services, a match is likely to come from someone with a similar ancestry. For Schwartz, it would be Jewish with parents of Ashkenazi descent.

For more information, contact Patrice Foresman, at patricef@cbsblood.org or 201-274-5381.


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