“Chapi’s condition is very bleak,” said Lei Compoc and Pauline Kupo, aunties of Chapi Akana, who is suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Kaua‘i native and Hanapepe resident, 25, is in desperate need of a bone-marrow transplant in order to
“Chapi’s condition is very bleak,” said Lei Compoc and Pauline Kupo, aunties of Chapi Akana, who is suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The Kaua‘i native and Hanapepe resident, 25, is in desperate need of a bone-marrow transplant in order to prolong his life.
His family and other loved ones have organized a bone-marrow registry event today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Kmart in Lihu‘e.
“Our plea is that you may be able to help us. The bone marrow drive is our only hope,” said Compoc and Kupo, who have gotten permission from U.S. Navy officials to recruit potential donors from their military and civilian co-workers at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
But the search for a match extends beyond Akana’s sizable Kaua‘i ‘ohana across the island, and is statewide and national as well, through the St. Francis Medical Center Hawai‘i Bone Marrow Donor Registry (HBMDR) and national registry.
For donor purposes, it is important to remember that Akana is of Hawaiian, Chinese and Caucasian ancestry, so folks in any of those ethnic groups might have better chances of matching.
“You must remember, however, that becoming a ‘giver’ will put you on a worldwide registry so that others in need may be reached,” the aunties said. “Search you heart, and if you see that you are the person we’re looking for, we’ll see you on Saturday.
“You might be the one we’ve been searching for,” they said.
Akana is a lifelong waterman, loves the ocean, and was recently training for a rough-water swim competition. Now, he needs a match to survive.
He is one of over 6,000 people nationwide diagnosed with some type of fatal blood disease each year, according to a spokesperson at St. Francis Medical Center.
Donors must be between 18 and 60 years of age, in general good health. A small sample of blood is collected from potential donors for tissue-typing.
Donors need register only once, and will be placed on state and national registries at no cost to donors.
For more information, please call the St. Francis Medical Center HBMDR, 1-808-547-6154.
