The Office of Spiritual Life, Diversity, and Service invites you to the Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Event and Bone Marrow Registry Drive on Monday, February 16, 2015 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the McCormick Tribune Campus Center (MTCC) Ballroom. The event will also include an educational program at 12:45 p.m. Learn more about Sickle Cell Disease and get tested. Free sickle cell screening will be available to those who qualify. Plus, your registration will give you the opportunity to save a life.

LaNyah was born with Sickle Cell Anemia, a disease that turns red blood cells into a crescent shape. At the age of eight, Nyah suffered a stroke and began experiencing seizures. Since then, Nyah has had several Transient Ischemic Attacks (mini-strokes), and seizures. As a result, her arteries began closing on the left side of her brain, inhibiting blood flow and oxygen. Nyah underwent an eleven-hour brain bypass surgery to connect vessels to the left side of her brain. A bone marrow transplant will allow Nyah’s body to produce normal red blood cells and will prevent any further complications.

Join the Be The Match Registry, and give LaNyah, and thousands more who are depending on finding a suitable marrow donor for a bone marrow transplant, a second chance at life. There are no needles, just a consent form and cheek swab. If you are between the ages of 45-60 join online here and use the code: IIT

Light refreshments will be provided.

If you have questions contact Lynne Meyer at lmeyer2@iit.edu or 312.567.3160.

This event reflects the values expressed in IIT’s Diversity Statement and is intended to promote diversity at IIT.