It’s not often that someone can say they saved somebody’s life, but that is exactly what an anonymous marrow donor did for Baby Ava! At the age of 3 months, Baby Ava was diagnosed with HLH, a rare and life-threatening disease.  After an unsuccessful cord blood transplant, the recommendation for treatment was for a bone[…]

On March 15, 2015, Andrew MacDowell embarked on a 13-mile journey as part of the 2015 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon in support of The Icla da Silva Foundation.   “I beat my time from five years ago.  I think this was the result of the deepened purpose I felt in my heart during this run,[…]

by Matt Sepic, The Pulse (Photo courtesy by Rachel McPherson)   A Philadelphia woman is likely to enjoy many more Thanksgivings following a successful bone marrow transplant. Francesca Lynch has been cancer free for a year because a woman she got to meet only recently signed up with the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be the Match registry.[…]

Wednesday, October 15th was a special evening for The Icla da Silva Foundation. Hundreds of friends gathered at our Hope Gala to celebrate the lives that have been saved through bone marrow transplants. The evening raised more than $315,000 and is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event. Financial contributions are critical to the continued growth[…]

BY STACEY ROSENFELD STAFF WRITER CLIFFSIDE PARK CITIZEN BERNADETTE MARCINIAK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ilyana Martinez swabs the inside of her cheek for a sample to be in the bone marrow registry at the Save Sofia Bone Marrow Registry Drive held at the Cliffside Park Firehouse on May 10. Also pictured is Donna Murtaugh, of Cliffside Park, assisting[…]

Behind his adventurous spirit you never would have known that Robert C. Lohnes was sick.  He dedicated his life to serving others through his many uniforms which included NYC Detective, Fingerprint Expert, Cold War Veteran and Ambulatory Care Volunteer.   Even with a distinguished career where he was called upon by the FBI to support[…]

In 2009, Marlon Layne was diagnosed with Lymphoma, yet it was impossible to notice. Hidden behind his handsome face and contagious smile recalled by many of his colleagues, Marlon kept the issues that were greatly affecting his health unknown to most.   A natural leader, Marlon inspired his colleagues through his drive and commitment to success through[…]

On Saturday, Feb. 22, join the family, friends and parishioners of St. Jude Church, in partnership with The Icla da Silva Foundation, at a bone marrow drive.

I’ve had my life saved twice by strangers: once when I was 10 and was swept underwater at an amusement park and the other when I slipped climbing a volcano in Chile eleven years later.

“I’ve been helping people all my life,” she said, so it is nice to see the reaction from the community rallying around her now. Zayas, 52, of Meriden, CT, worked in social services beginning in the late 1980s. She was the executive director of the Spanish Community of Wallingford from 1988 to 1993. She also[…]