An estimated 750,000 Americans live with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma and someone new is diagnosed with one of these cancers every 5 minutes. To help these patients, BAPS Charities regularly organizes Bone Marrow Drive. Recently, Tapan Dhivar, a BAPS Charities volunteer, donated his bone marrow to save a life.
In 2011, Tapan registered at the BAPS Charities Bone Marrow Drive organized in Atlanta, GA. In the fall of 2012, the National Bone Marrow Donor Program contacted Tapan that he was a match for a patient who was critically ill from leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
On December 20, 2012, he donated his bone marrow, most of which was used for the patient and a small amount for research. Speaking after the Marrow Donation, Tapan Dhivar said, “It was a moment where I felt proud for myself and my family. I was able to make a huge difference in another person’s life.”
He added, “I want everyone to know that being registered in the National Marrow Donor Program is very important. I hope that everyone who can register does so. I am glad I could make a lasting change in another person’s life.”
