Dear Readers,
This weekend I had the privilege of meeting the exceptional individuals who are helping baby Elias find a match for his much needed bone marrow transplant. Baby Elias is a 10-month-old Greek-American boy who is suffering from a rare immunodeficiency disease called NEMO. NEMO is a complex genetic disease that can affect several different body parts, primarily the skin, and consists of an extensive setback to the immune system. It took month’s to properly diagnose Baby Elias, as he is only the 22nd person with this rare disorder in the US. His only hope for a survival and a cure is a bone marrow transplant.
His loving family members are organizing donor swab drives across the US and Greece in order to help find a matching donor for Elias. The family members are turning to the Greek Orthodox community for help primarily because there is a higher probability of genetic similarity among the Hellenic ethnicity. If you happen to be at an event where the Baby Elia’s team is, please do take the time and read over the donor credentials and get swabbed. It is a five minute process that could result in saving a life.
If you are interested in helping or organizing a donor drive or getting swabbed, please review this form.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,
Aphrodite Kotrotsios, Co-Publisher
Hellenic News of America
