Bone marrow drives
Sophia's Angels can fly all over the world.
Through the National Marrow Donor Program, Sophia's Angels helps families find active marrow drives. One cheek swab adds you to a registry doctors search worldwide, so a family waiting for a match can ask everyone they know to test.
Your family and friends can call, mention Sophia's Angels, and a representative will lead them to a list of available drives close to home, wherever they live. They can also visit nmdp.org (formerly marrow.org and Be The Match).
In our case, people wanted to come to Sophia's Marrow Drive but their schedules didn't permit it. They could still be sent to another "Drive of Life" in honor of our child. Testing is free, and every result goes into a database that cross-checks your loved one for a match all over the world.
When they visit another "Drive of Life," they bless another family with hope too.
Possibilities do not have to end.
Everyone you speak to can become part of a chain of compassion. Here's how to start it.
Ask everyone you know to test
Family, friends, coworkers, your church, your school. The more people on the registry, the better the odds for your loved one and for every other patient searching.
Host a drive in their honor
Bring the swab to the people who love your family. NMDP can help you organize a drive at your church, school, or workplace, just like Sophia's Marrow Drive.
Send them to a Drive of Life
Friends who can't make your drive can call 1-800-MARROW-2 and mention Sophia's Angels, or order a free swab kit online in honor of your child.
It's just a cotton-tipped swab.
First you're tested. If you are blessed to be a one-in-a-million match, you could be the one who saves a life. To honor and bless someone like Sophia, become a marrow and stem cell donor.
- FreeIt costs nothing to join or to donate.
- At homeRegister online and a swab kit arrives by mail, usually in 3–7 days. Swab your cheeks and mail it back.
- Ages 18–40The age range to join the NMDP Registry, because cells from younger donors give patients their best chance.
- WorldwideJoining means being willing to donate to any patient in need, even if you join for one person.
Registry details from NMDP. Guidelines can change, so check nmdp.org for the latest.
Sophia was truly American.
Mexican, French, Indian, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, English
Marrow was Sophia's only possible cure, and it's received during remission. She was in remission, waiting and praying for that perfect match. Minority blood was needed, and a clear match did not come in time. She was the spirit of life.
We need everyone.
Giving blood is the same as if you ran into a burning car to save a life.
It is that intense. Every time Sophia received blood, she put her little hand on it and prayed for the person who gave it.
"God, Jesus, and Angels, thank you for this blood that I am receiving right now. Allow it to enter my body with love and respect for who I am. Bless the person who donated this blood today because they are a HERO! Bless them with love, health and wealth so that they can continue to give. Amen."
You can be the one who saves a life.
Imagine and believe that everyone you speak to about us feels inspired to help heal the world. Test, give blood, and help Sophia's Angels keep flying.