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Revised Letter from Susan Brecker:
PLEASE SEND THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW!!!
Dear Family and Friends,
My husband, Michael Brecker, has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic
syndrome), and it's critical that he has a marrow or blood stem cell transplant---which
has nothing to do with the polarizing issue of embryonic stem cells. The
initial search for a donor, including Michael's siblings and children, has
not resulted in a suitable match. We now hope to have as many people tested
as possible that share a similar genetic background as my husband. There
are some important points to understand concerning this process:
1. The screening involves only a blood test. It can be done very easily at
a donor center of the National Marrow Donor Program. The blood test identifies
your HLA tissue type. The cost for the test is generally $40 to $95 depending
on the donor center and the laboratory that completes the test. After this
initial testing, all medical expenses are paid for by the patient or the
patient’s
insurance. Go to http://www.marrow.org or call 1-800-MARROW-2
to find the donor center nearest you. In NYC, call Frazier at the NY Blood
Bank [212-570-3441 / 310 East 67th Street] to make an appointment. The
test is $40. If it’s difficult to make it to a blood center, private
kits are available from Tepnel Life Codes [800-915-3695]. Order the “HLA
[A][B][DR]” kit for $140. You will need to have a small vial of blood
drawn. Indicate to Tepnel that your test is for “Michael Brecker” and
they will know to whom to forward your results.
2. As a volunteer donor, you are never legally obligated to donate.
Individual decisions are always respected. However, a late decision not to
donate can be life-threatening to a patient and among the most disheartening
news a family can ever receive. Therefore, please carefully consider your
decision to be a donor.
3. Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael or any other
patient, please understand that there have been tremendous advances in "bone
marrow transplants"
and the term itself can be misleading. At major cancer centers, blood stem cells
can in nearly all instances be harvested directly from your blood. A donor is
simply connected to a machine that separates the blood stem cells before the
donor’s blood reenters his/her system. On occasion, stem cells may have
to be harvested directly from your bone marrow. All the necessary precautions
are taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the donor. A number of personal
health questions are asked when individuals join the National Marrow Donor Program
Registry to be sure they are in general good health. In the event you’re
asked to donate marrow or blood cells, a volunteer will first receive a thorough
physical examination—at no cost to him or herself.
4. A match for Michael would be most likely come from those of Eastern European
Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are in this category please make a
special effort to immediately get tested. Ultimately, you would be doing something
not just for Michael, but for so many more who are in a similar situation as
my husband.
5. You are now part of our internet-based drive
for donor testing. If everyone who receives email can motivate a bunch
of their friends to get tested, and those friends then forward this email
to get their friends to get tested, we will have rapidly expanded the pool
of potential donors. I urge all of you to get tested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Finally, any local National Marrow Donor Program donor center can assist
in organizing a drive for Michael, although it would be desirable if you
can get a large group, e.g. a synagogue, to sponsor it. The “Gift of
Life,” an organization whose mission is to increase the representation
of the Jewish people in the bone marrow donor pool, will test you for free
when part of a donor drive organized through
“Gift of Life.” Call 561.988.0100 [ http://www.giftoflife.org]
for further information. There exist other organizations that have a similar
mission for African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, etc.
Whatever your roots, please get tested to assist others!
Should you have any questions about any of this, please do not hesitate to
get in touch with Michael's management office at 212.302.9200 or info@michaelbrecker.com
Thank you so much for your love and support. We are so grateful.
Susan ox
Michael Brecker is 56 and an internationally renowned jazz musician. As a
result of his harmonic innovations, Michael is among the most studied contemporary
instrumentalists in music schools throughout the world today. Michael has
recorded and performed with a virtual Who’s Who of hundreds of jazz
and pop giants including McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, Chick
Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones, John Lennon, Charles Mingus,
Joni Mitchell, Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Frank Sinatra,
James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, Billy Joel and
Elton John. As a leader and co-leader of The Brecker Brothers (with Randy
Brecker) and Directions in Music (with Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove),
Michael has received 11 Grammy Awards-more than any saxophonist. For further
information, go to
Depth of Field Management
1501 Broadway Suite 1304
New York, New York 10036
212-302-9200