The Icla Da Silva Foundation has been helping patients with blood cancers, and adding potential donors to the bone marrow registry, for 26 years. We started in memory of my sister Icla, who was unable to find the match that she needed to survive.

In her honor, every year the Icla Da Silva Foundation adds 38,000 new members to the registry.  Potential life savers, with a strong focus on communities from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

When a family learns that a loved one has been diagnosed with a rare disease or blood cancer, and is in need of a bone marrow transplant, the fear can be horribly daunting. Our goal is to offer these patients and their families hope for a second chance, hope for a life-saving stem cell or bone marrow match.

One of our patients, Julian Morales, has been searching for his match since he was three years old. Now seven, Julian smiles when he speaks about the day he will finally be able to go to a water park with his family, or play outside with his sister, or simply enjoy a single nights rest without pain or discomfort.

Julian was born with a rare genetic disorder, Dyskeratosis Congenita (DKC). His bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells, and his immune system is severely compromised. The team at Icla has been working to find a bone marrow match for Julian by hosting drives in diverse communities.

Patients with Hispanic or Latino heritage only have a 46% percent chance of finding a matching donor on the registry. Those with mixed ethnicities have an even lower probability of finding their match. Julian is of Honduran and Guatemalan descent, and his need for a life saving match grows with every day. With the support of people like you, we continue the search for his match.

There are many deserving and inspiring Foundations to support on this #Giving Tuesday.  This year we hope you think of the Icla da Silva Foundation, of Julian Morales, and of the thousands of children in need of their perfect match. Contributions like yours give hope to the patients, their families, and the many friends in their community.

Thank you for your generosity.

Thank you for being a part of our family.

Airam Da Silva

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