Bone Marrrow Donor Drive for Jasmina Anema - ONE MORE DAY!!!

Hello everyone! Well, the day is finally here - tomorrow in the Washington, DC area, there will be a donor drive to find a potential bone marrow match for Jasmina Anema. Sorry I haven't updated the blog, but I've been running around getting everything together for tomorrow.

Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 10AM - 3PM at
The National Society of Professional Engineers
1420 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Please join Tom Zbikowski of the Baltimore Ravens, DKMS, as well as NSPE and their staff members as we ALL try to find THE ONE for Jasmina Anema.

NSPE is located in the Old Town section of Alexandria, VA and is within 3 walking blocks from the King Street Metro station, off of the Blue and Yellow lines. Parking is limited.

We all look forward to seeing you there!

http://www.oneforjasmina.com/
http://www.dkmsamericas.org/

Updated Articles about Jasmina

Please go to the following links to find information about Jasmina Anema and her plight:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20271324,00.html

http://www.thatblackgirlsite.com/thatblackgirlblogs/natalie-cole-jasmina-anema-the-search-for-donors

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/04/07/2009-04-07_governor_paterson_pays_visit_to_jasmina_.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/03/28/2009-03-28_jasmina_anema_battling_leukemia_needs_ma.html

http://news.aol.com/health/article/jasmina-anema-bone-marrow-donor/369967

http://wcbstv.com/local/bone.marrow.drive.2.971046.html

You can also find information at the websites I've mentioned in previous posts. I will update this post as I find more information.

~Traycee~

Press Release: 6yr old Jasmina Anema Fighting for Her Life

Contact: Frances Forde For Immediate Release
Telephone: 240-328-4563
E-mail: JoinTheBattle@gmail.com
Website: www.oneforjasmina.com

SIX YEAR-OLD FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
A Bone Marrow Transplant is her only chance for survival

Alexandria, Virginia, April 7, 2009 - In an effort to assist six year old Jasmina Anema, who suffers from a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia, in her search for a bone marrow match staff members of the National Society of Professional Engineers have gathered to hold a bone marrow donor drive. The event serves as a venue to possibly save a life as well as increase awareness and educate the community about bone marrow and blood stem donation.

On January 20th, Jasmina was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of acute leukemia when seeking treatment for an infected toe. At present, with approximately one month left to live, her only chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant.

DKMS, the largest bone marrow donor center in the world, is teaming up with friends of the Anema family to organize this bone marrow donor drive! The drive will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at the National Society of Professional Engineers located at 1420 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, and is within three blocks of the King Street Metro exit on the Yellow and Blue lines.

The bone marrow donor registration is quick and easy. All you need is a complete registration form and a swab from the inside of your cheeks.

As a non-profit organization, DKMS relies on the generosity of individuals to help finance the $65 cost DKMS pays to tissue type each bone marrow donor who registers. Donations are voluntary. Donate today! Every dollar counts! 100% of your donation, which is tax deductible, will be used to register donors and add them on the National Registry.

Understand your commitment and find out if you are eligible to register as a potential life-saving bone marrow donor.

About DKMS
DKMS was founded in Germany in 1991 by Peter Harf and Professor Dr. Gerhard Ehninger, and after Peter lost his wife, Mechtild, to acute leukemia. Today, DKMS is the world’s largest marrow donor center with over 1.8 million registered marrow donors. Since its founding, DKMS has facilitated more than 16,000 transplants.

The mission of DKMS is to give every blood cancer patient a second chance at life by recruiting marrow donors from every race and ethnicity. We inspire hope and healing by matching our donors with patients around the world in need of a marrow transplant.

DKMS Americas is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization.

For more information about DKMS, please visit www.dkmsamericas.org or call 1.866.640.3567.

# # #

If you would like more information about this event, or to schedule an interview with Frances Forde, please call (240) 328-4563 or e-mail JoinTheBattle@gmail.com.

Jasmina Anema Update

I don't know what to do! I'm on the verge of tears because Jasmina's condition is worsening - the cancer is multiplying - and DKMS has yet to find a bone marrow donor match for her. I can't help but look at her and see my little cousins or even one of my god-children. I am so saddened right now, that I just cannot explain it. And, to add to my frustration, my contact person at DKMS has not gotten back to me regarding some paperwork. So, there's a chance that not only may the drive I'm conducting be too late for Jasmina, but there's also a chance that it won't happen at all - to help ANYONE.

I'm not a completely religious person, but I do believe in God and attend church service - not as often as I should though. And, I do believe that He is at work here and everything is happening according to His plan and His work. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. So, while I continue to keep Jasmina and her family in my prayers, I know that God is watching over her and guiding her and taking care of her. It just hurts SO MUCH because I feel completely helpless.

It just hurts.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/03/28/2009-03-28_jasmina_anema_battling_leukemia_needs_ma.html

http://www.blackvoices.com/newsarticle/_a/jasmina-anema/20090330135909990001

~Traycee

Saving Jasmina Anema!!!

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), located in Alexandria, VA, will lend their office space to conduct a Bone Marrow Donor Drive to find a potential donor for Jasmina Anema.

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Time: 10AM - 3PM
Place: National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
1420 King StreetAlexandria, VA 22314

NSPE is located approximately 15 miles from Washington, DC in the Old Towne section of Alexandria, VA. They are within walking distance from the King Street Metro, which is on the Yellow and Blue lines. It is strongly encouraged that you take public transportation.

If you cannot attend the drive, please visit http://www.dkmsamericas.org/ to request a donor kit in the mail. As a non-profit organization, DKMS relies on the generosity of individuals to help finance the $65 cost DKMS pays to tissue type each bone marrow donor who registers. Donations are voluntary. Donate today! Every dollar counts! 100% of your donation, which is tax deductible, will be used to register donors and add them on the National Registry.

Send an email to: JoinTheBattle@gmail.com with any questions. More information will follow as it becomes available.


.

Can we give President Obama A CHANCE?!

I wanted to take a little break from talking about Jasmina to discuss something that has been bothering me for some time now. I cannot figure out how it seems that ALL of the Republicans, and now some Democrats, expect President Obama to change the things going on with our economy over night! It's funny how no one said anything to Former President Bush when he was screwing our economy up. But, now everyone expects President Obama to be some sort of miracle worker, snap his fingers, and PRESTO - economy fixed! AMAZING!!! This crap of a mess did not happen over night, so how is it feasible that it can be fixed over night?!

President Obama hasn't even been in office a complete TWO MONTHS yet, and everyone is jumping down his throat over the fact that he isn't moving fast enough. I clearly remember him saying during his campaign that this, our economy, CANNOT be fixed over night. Um, were they not listening?! I know I was listening! How about this - GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE!!! I am sure for some more than others that this is easier said than done, but come on! How about you try…it's not that hard. This is just ridiculous.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox…for now. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program!

~Traycee~ :)

In Need of Volunteers

I have received the information packet from DKMS (today) about setting up a Bone Marrow Donor Drive for Jasmina Amena, the 6-year old little girl who is in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant. The first step in setting up a donor drive is obtaining volunteers. SO, I am reaching out to all of you who come and read my blog to step up. Being a volunteer is extremely easy and will definitely be rewarding. I will need people to assist with the following:

1. Picking a location (I'm currently working on this now)
2. Media and Public Relations - let's spread the word
3. Fundraising
4. Location set-up
5. Information table
6. Registration on the day of the drive
7. Testing (a simple cheek swab)
8. Manning the donation table on the day of the drive
9. Check-out station
10. Refreshment area

Let's all step up and help this precious little girl - and others just like her. If you cannot volunteer, it's ok...there are other ways to help. Please respond to indicate your willingness to help out. Together, we can ALL save a life!

~Traycee~

Helping Jasmina

Hey everyone!

You know, I must be honest with you. There's a lot going on in my personal life. However, all of that got pushed aside when I heard of Jasmina's story. I do have to admit, I was a little slow to act. Well, I don't know, maybe not. I first read about Jasmina about a month ago when I read an article at People.com. I saw the video that her best friend made pleading for everyone's help. It tore at every single ounce of my being. It literally brought me to tears.

Jasmina Amena is a 6-year old girl who was diagnosed on January 20, 2009 with a rare form of Leukemia. She is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant and without it, doctors are giving her approximately 2-months to live.

So, I went online and requested a Bone Marrow Donor kit. It took approximately two weeks to arrive at my door and I couldn't be happier. I followed the simple steps and did a cheek swab so that I could be tested to see if I was a match. I verified all of my information, and mailed it back. I'm praying that I'm a match for Jasmina. Oh, she is such a precious little girl!!!

Even though I have yet to meet her, I feel like I've known her since she was born. When I see her picture, I see every young child in my family in her eyes. And boy oh boy does she have some big, beautiful eyes. I cried yesterday when looking at her picture because it hurts so much to think that she may not be here much longer if she doesn't find a donor.

I was online until about 1:30AM last night because I couldn't sleep and I just kept researching different things for Jasmina - trying to figure out how I can help her........and quite possibly, others just like her. SO, before I went to bed last night, I made up my mind to help her more than just by giving a cheek swab. I've contacted DKMS and am awaiting contact from them so that I can set up a donor drive. I've been posting blogs (as you can see) and sending numerous emails to help spread the word about her cause. My only hope and prayer is that the donor drive doesn't come too late for Jasmina.

I ask you - what are YOU going to do to help Jasmina? What CAN you do to help Jasmina? Can you look at her face and look into those eyes and not have it tug at your heart?!

This Saturday, March 7th from 10AM - 2PM, there will be a donor drive at the following location. If you live in NYC or have friends or family that live there, PLEASE get out there and get your cheek swabbed! It's not everyday that you can do something to save someone's life. I AM ON A MISSION...how about you?!

Public School 41
116 W 11th St
New York, NY

Click here to see the video that Jasmina's friend, Isabelle, made for her.

*Above image (Isabelle and Jasmina) taken from here

Sources:
www.oneforjasmina.com
www.dkmsamericas.org
www.people.com

Help Jasmina with a Bone Marrow Donation

Jasmina Anema turns 6 years old Wednesday (March 4th), and the birthday party planned for her - with a fashion show, cake and an appearance by singer Kelly Rowland - is a dream come true.

But the celebration could be Jasmina's last.

The bubbly Greenwich Village kindergartner is suffering from a rare and especially fatal form of leukemia that doctors fear will take her life within two months unless she receives a bone-marrow transplant.

Jasmina's family - and celebrities like Rihanna and NBA star Paul Pierce, who were touched by her plight - hope a donor drive Saturday will produce the match needed to save her.

"I need thousands of people to come," Jasmina's mother, Theodora Anema, said Tuesday at NYU Medical Center as her ailing child clung to her neck.

"She's the love of my life."

Jasmina's life was turned upside down on Jan. 20 when a doctor informed her she was suffering from NK cell Leukemia.

The news was crushing. Anema had no idea the minor infection on her daughter's toe was a sign of something so sinister.

Click here to continue

~Traycee~

Source

Become a Bone Marrow Donor

Becoming a bone marrow donor is SO EASY and extremely PAIN FREE!!! Visit the DKMS website and request a donor kit. All you have to do is complete the form they send you and submit TWO cheek swabs. It's as simple as that. I've done it, and so can you.

If you're a match for ANYONE, they will contact you. There's no greater gift than to help save someone's life.

I thank you and your potential "donee" thanks you!!!

BECOME A DONOR

~Traycee~

A Classy Pair

(image yanked from here)

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama - my heart is filled with such joy!

On Our Way to JUSTICE!!!

The protests and the uproars have been heeded to - authorities have arrested the BART officer who shot AND killed Oscar Grant on New Year's morning. The former officer, Johannes Mehserle, has been charged with MURDER - as he very well should be! For more information, go here and here.

~Traycee

What Did We Do Wrong?

Besides OBVIOUSLY being the WRONG SKIN COLOR!!!

Oscar Grant - 22 year old father, son, boyfriend, cousin, brother, grandson, friend, BLACK MAN

You know, when I saw online the report about the young man who was shot and killed by an Oakland, CA BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) offer, I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to write. I just didn't know what to say. It hurts my heart in ways I just cannot describe because yet ANOTHER BLACK MAN IS GONE!!! Another family has to bury their loved one over what appears to be a senseless act by a seemingly trigger happy cop. I simply cannot fathom what seems like the desire to "snuff us out". I'm not saying that ALL cops are bad people - but one bad apple definitely does spoil the entire bunch.

How do you shoot a person in the back? This person poses no absolute risk to you because a fellow officer is kneeling on the person's back? The person has their hands behind them!!! But yet - you still manage to shoot AND kill him. HOW?? WHY?? There's a report that the officer "might" have mistaken his gun for his pepper spray. Are these two VERY DIFFERENT items that similar in touch that you cannot know the difference?

They're rioting in CA now. Seriously, did people think WE would sit back and do NOTHING?! WRONG!!!!!!! Wrong on every fathomable level imaginable! I cannot bring myself to post the video of Mr. Grant's MURDER!!! So, you're going to have to search the Internet - I'm sure it won't be hard to find because just about every media outlet is broadcasting it.

Violence is NOT the answer! I know it hurts. I know you want to beat someone up, burn some cars, break some windows - but that is not the way to do things. I know it's hard to sit by and wait for the criminal justice system to work. But, doing all of this is not going to bring Oscar Grant back. Threatening the officer that killed him is not going to bring him back. FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE will bring him back. FIGHTING FOR OSCAR GRANT because he can no longer fight for himself will bring him back. No, it won't bring him back physically - but it will keep his memory alive for his loved ones and for those like me who never knew him.

Amadou Diallo (09/02/75 - 02/04/99), Sean Bell (05/18/83 - 11/25/06), Billy Joe Johnson (?? - 12/08/08), Oscar Grant (?? - 01/01/09), and countless others - ALL innocent men GUNNED DOWN by police.

DEAR GOD, WHEN WILL IT END?!?!?!

~Traycee~

CNN.com Tries to Decipher the Billey Joe Johnson Case

Was it suicide? Was it an accident? Or, was it murder?! Several key questions are asked in this video. Details on the autopsy are still pending.

High School Football Star Dies

This morning, I was doing my morning perusal of the Internet to get myself caught up on the news as I don't have much time to watch it once I get home in the evenings. Upon checking my links of black websites, I finally stumbled onto Black Report. Once there, I clicked on a link which took me to Black Voices. There's an article about a young man, Billy Joe Johnson, who recently died. Billy Joe Johnson was a high school football star in Mississippi - George County High School. Here is how the article went:

Billy Joe was stopped by police for "running through a stop sign and a red light". The officer approached his car, got his license, and returned to his patrol car. As he was running his license through the system, he heard a gunshot and saw Billy Joe fall to the ground with a shotgun on top of him. Supposedly, he shot himself in the head. Police are saying it was suicide. His family, friends, AND the NAACP are saying it WASN'T. Autopsies are currently being conducted - the one being conducted by the state of Mississippi and one being conducted separately at the request of the family via the NAACP.

I am posting this to make you aware of what may be going on down in Mississippi - another case of a police coverup. The following links provide the short details as provided by Black Voices. I will do more research on this and will update everyone as soon as I get a chance.

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/12/09/star-high-school-running-back-mysteriously-dead/

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/12/15/update-naacp-family-say-high-school-star-did-not-commit-suicid/

What do you think happened after reading the two articles above?

~Traycee

Missing In Action

Hey everyone!

I know I've been M.I.A. for a little while. Well, I have a virus on my laptop at home. And, because of this, I cannot log onto my blog to make any posts. I can only do it from work, and I have so much to do here, I haven't had the time. BUT, don't worry, I'll be back before you've grown to miss me.

Speaking of this dang on virus, does anyone know ANYTHING about getting a virus (WORM) off of a computer. Because of this thing, I cannot do a Google search nor can I check my gmail. It's called BAIDU - that's the name of the virus/worm. If you can provide me with any info, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Until I get this thing out of my computer.........

~Traycee~

Pastor Promoting S-E-X

What would you do if your pastor came to you one Sunday with a challenge to get your marriage back on track? Would you take him up on his offer? Let's say that your pastor came to you & your husband and suggested that for the next 30 days, you had sex with each other every single day? Let's take it a step further...what if you're single, living a sexually active lifestyle and your pastor challenged to you to abstain from sex for the next 30 days. Would you take him up on his offer?

Well, there is a pastor down in Ybor City, Florida who has posed this exact challenge to the members of his congregation. The pastor, Paul Wirth, and the church have even dedicated a website for those participating in the challenge to blog about the things they will experience over the next 30 days and to see what other members say. http://www.relevantchurch.com/

I must say, as a single person, abstaining from sex for 30 days isn't so bad. It's when that 31st day comes by that we may have a problem.

~Traycee~

Educational Program

Here is an educational program that was emailed to me this morning by a friend. If you're looking to get into teaching, this may be the program for you.

Howard University has just been awarded a multi-million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to recruit, train and certify people that are interested in becoming teachers. We are looking for candidates who would like to teach English, Mathematics, Reading, Science or Special Education in Chicago (IL); Clayton County (GA); Houston (TX); Prince George's County (MD); or Washington (DC). The best part -no experience or background in education is required!
The Ready to Teach program (RTT) is ACTIVELY recruiting candidates for the 2008-2009 Cohort. Through this program you can earn a Master's of Arts in teaching Degree and get your teaching certification in one short year! RTT even provides scholarships and financial assistance to its candidates. The program is geared towards African-American males, but everyone is encouraged to apply.

Hurry, the application deadline is March 3, 2008!!!

For admissions requirements and more information please visit the website at www.readytoteach.org, or feel free to contact me at ttillman@howard.edu.

~Traycee~

Katt Williams Gives Back

Katt Williams is a giving man. There’s a report on Google that Katt Williams was giving away $100 bills at a recent comic gig at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, CA. The owner of the Laugh Factory told the Associated Press that Katt Williams “hadn’t forgotten his roots and wanted to thank his loyal audience.”

Read the entire article here:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQwr6ee5cDX7XXaY8LpeSy1XnbiwD8UP40EG0

~Traycee~

Vote or Die

I am so excited about voting tomorrow here in Maryland. As I am sure others can attest to, this is one of the most exciting and intense elections in decades. Just knowing that my vote will help push someone closer toward the Democratic nomination is exhilarating. I believe this is my 3rd time voting in a presidential primary. Did I mention how excited I am? I am hitting the polls as soon as I leave the gym tomorrow morning. Well, after I go back home to shower and get changed.

I hope those in the Washington, DC area will go out in force and make their voices heard. I look forward to seeing you all there!

In the infamous words of Sean "Diddy" "P. Diddy" (or w/e the hell he calls himself now) Combs…"VOTE OR DIE"!!!

~Traycee~