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She added that whole blood and platelet donations are also important Kimberley said there is a boy about Erik‘s age on his ward who waited six months for a donor and now through the Registry he‘ll soon receive the transplant. Once a donor is matched through the Registry‘s database, Erik will undergo the transplant at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. This done, Erik‘s chances for recovery jump from 30% with chemotherapy alone to about 70%. too many cancer cells in Erik‘s blood to get an accurate reading. Siblings make the best match (in this case there are none) although only in 25% of cases. A parental match occurs once in every 750,000, underscoring the importance of getting as many peoâ€" ple as possible to register. (Since Walter is Asian and Kimberley Caucasian, a match will be that much more difficult.) Parents plead for bone marrow donors (Continued from page 1) Kimberley and Walter Lo with their 10â€"monthâ€"old son Erik held a press conference at the Children‘s Hospital at Chedokeâ€"McMaster Medic al Centre in Hamilton Wednesday to explain their son‘s urgent need for a bone marrow match for a potentially lifeâ€"saving transplant. (Photo by Peter McCusker) since, in Erik‘s case, he‘ll be needâ€" sweethearts and were married in him," she continued, explaining ing a total of nearly 300 transfuâ€" 1987. They are both 30 years old, they have lots of pictures of Erik sions. Maybe then they can all get Erik was born on Jan. 16 at Credit smiling up in the room. "We tell back to some semblance of normalâ€" _ Valley Hospital in Mississauga. him loves you, Daddy cy. Asked how they remain so loves you, God loves you.‘ " s Ne 1 in ed can attend an information session and sign a consent form to join folâ€" lowed by a blood sample for testing. For more information call 416â€"593â€" 2257 in Toronto or 905â€"522â€"8485 in "It‘s like living in a fish bowl, but we‘re optimistic we‘ll be going home soon," said Walter. He and his wife were high school Asked how they remain so upbeat under the strain of the situaâ€" tion, Kimberley simply looked at Erik and said, "This is how." "A lot times we just cry with Warm thoughts and prayers make for powerful medicine, but the key element that remains is supâ€" port for the Registry. Those interestâ€" "I wouldn‘t want anyone to go through what we have," says Walter. ed can attend an information session and sign a consent form to join folâ€" lowed by a blood sample for testing. For more information call 416â€"593â€" 2257 in Toronto or 905â€"522â€"8485 in Hamilton.