Find Bone-Marrow People

Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.

—Oprah Winfrey

At some point, we all need someone who can stand in the gap for us— someone who selflessly comes by our side in good times and bad. I call them bone-marrow people.

Bone marrow is where new blood cells are formed. Dean Eller, CEO of the Central California Blood Center, describes marrow this way: “It’s where life is produced.” He knows first-hand the importance of bone marrow and blood. Dean stood by his daughter Jennifer as she battled acute myelogenous leukemia—one-third of those diagnosed die within 30 days. Jenny was blessed with an additional four years of life, in large part because of blood donations and a marrow transfusion. During her illness, virtually every ounce of blood in her body was there because people had donated hundreds and hundreds of pints of blood. A marrow transfusion requires a perfect match—about 1 in 20,000 are compatible. Diseased marrow is a death sentence. With a successfu....