9-year-old’s plight spurs success for marrow registry drive

More than 125 people joined the national bone marrow donor list during a registry drive at Temple Chai in Long Grove last weekend.

The drive was sponsored by the temple in honor of a 9-year-old member of the congregation, Lacey Horwitch of Northbrook, who has been hospitalized since Aug. 1 at Children’s Memorial Hospital fighting a rare blood disorder.

Lisa Hartman, social action chair for the temple, said the turnout was at least double what organizers expected, but they were thankful for each name added to the registry.

Although those who signed up may not be able to help Horwitch directly, there are thousands of other children and adults around the country waiting for bone marrow transplants, according to Be the Match, the national Bone Marrow Registry Foundation.

Organizers encourage more residents to join the list by signing up online at www.marrow.org

Donors must be between 18 and 60 and in generally good health. Joining the registry consists of a simple cheek swab, and donors stay on the registry until age 61. They’ll be contacted if they are a match for someone in need.

“The more people we can get on the registry the better,” she said.