Marrow Donor Program Notes 50,000 Transplants
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis-based National Marrow Donor Program is celebrating its 50,000th transplant.
The program operates the Be The Match Registry, the Internet registry of potential donors of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. The transplants help treat diseases, including leukemia and lymphoma.
The program facilitated its first marrow transplant between an unrelated donor and patient 25 years ago. The recent milestone donation was by 19-year-old Miah Winterfeldt, of Shakopee.
Transplant therapy is becoming more common. The donor program reports that half of the 50,000 procedures were performed in the last five years.
By 2015, the nonprofit organization plans to double the number of transplants it facilitates to more than 10,000 a year.
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