Supporters of Youngstown woman plan Saturday marrow donor drive

By Denise Dick | January 20, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Saturday’s “Penny Saver” at Youngstown State University is about more than loose change.

Supporters of Marie “Penny” Eldridge-Harris of Youngstown plan a marrow-donor drive registry drive to find a marrow donor for their friend. The drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Kilcawley Center Ohio Room at Youngstown State University.

Eldridge-Harris was diagnosed last September with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a bone-marrow disorder, and needs a bone-marrow transplant.

Be The Match is organizing the drive.

“Her legacy in the community is endless,” said Marsha Little, who has known Eldridge-Harris since they both attended The Rayen School.

Eldridge-Harris sings at many weddings and other occasions throughout the city.

Eldridge-Harris is undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and because of her susceptibility to illness, won’t be able to attend Saturday’s event.

“Even at this time when she is sick, her spirit longs to be in fellowship with people, and the Lord is her strength,” Little said. “She can’t wait to get into the general population. She is so uplifting to people.”

Eldridge-Harris has four adult children and four grandchildren.

“She was raised in the church,” Little said. “Her whole family was. They’re all very spiritual and concerned about others. Penny is a wonderful mother and I can’t think of anyone who’s met her who didn’t like her.”

Eldridge-Harris is moved by the effort to help her.

“It feels good to have the support of so many friends and church members and family come and see if they can be a donor,” she said.

Although Eldridge-Harris has days when she feels well and other days that she doesn’t, the outpouring of love from people organizing the donor drive provides a lift.

“It makes me feel so great,” she said.

Donors must be between age 18 and 44. Although the drive is for Eldridge-Harris, participants must be willing to donate to anyone in need, said Tonya Davis community engagement coordinator with Be The Match.

“We’re encouraging everybody to come and join the registry on Saturday,” she said.

The organization especially needs black and Latino donors.

“Race and ethnicity are very important when we’re trying to find a match for someone,” Davis said.

She estimated that 70 percent of donors in the registry are caucasian.

The process to determine if someone is a match takes 10 to 15 minutes and is painless. Be The Match personnel take a swab from the inside of a prospective donor’s cheek. The rest is paperwork.

If a donor is a match, they will donate either stem cells or bone marrow, Davis said. Most adults get the stem-cell transplant, while children are more likely to get the marrow transplant.

For stem cells, IVs are inserted in the donor’s arm. The process takes from four to six hours.

For bone marrow, the donor is put under anesthesia and a needle extracts a small amount of marrow from the back of the hip bone. As with any outpatient procedure, the donor returns home the same day.

There is no cost for the donor’s medical procedures. Be The Match even helps with transportation and child care for donors.

Information is available at bethematch.org.

Eldridge-Harris’s faith is aiding her through her ordeal.

“What’s helping me is healing Scriptures,” she said. “I read them every day.”

She believes in the power of prayer, but she’s also following her doctors’ instructions.

“I trust in God most of all, but I know God has given men knowledge to help those who are sick,” Eldridge-Harris said.