More Hispanics in need of bone marrow transplants

LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ - A Valley man struggling with leukemia says he desperately needs a bone marrow transplant and can't find a match.

"You hear about people going through it but you never think that you'll be the one," said cancer patient Johnny Garcia.

Diagnosed with cancer in April, Garcia now endures chemotherapy while he waits for a bone marrow transplant.

"It's hard at times, all my friends are out doing stuff and I'm in here," said Garcia.

But it may be hard for him to find a match because of his ethnicity.

"There's not a lot of Hispanics that are in the pool," said Garcia.

That fact lowers his chances of finding a match to only 50 percent.

"It is tough to see them struggle," said Korinne Ashlock, a nurse at Banner Estrella Medical Center.

So to try and raise his odds, Ashlock and the other nurses at Banner Estrella Medical Center are stepping up.

"Whatever it takes, we'll pass out flyers, we'll go door to door, whatever we have to do to get him a match we'll do it," said Ashlock.

They've planned a donor drive for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the hospital.

Just a quick swab of the cheek and anyone can help by being put on the donor list.

"It's about giving him life," said Ashlock.

And if someone matches, the donation process isn't like it used to be.

"It's just like your giving blood," said Garcia.

No need to tap into marrow inside the bone. But Ashlock says she and the other nurses are still concerned for Garcia's future.

"It's heartbreaking because we know what's ahead for him if he doesn't get the perfect match," said Ashlock.

Garcia is optimistic about the event and hopes it will also serve to help other Latinos.

"So if I bring a lot in it will help out a lot of other Hispanics that are going through the same thing," said Garcia.

Besides being tested to see if you are a match, if you'd like to help out the Garcia family with medical bills they have set up an account at Bank of America under Johnny's name. The account is #000959037035.