TR SAILOR DONATES BONE MARROW TO SAVE A LIFE

TR Sailor Donates Bone Marrow to Save a Life
Story Number: NNS091016-32
Release Date: 10/16/2009 4:40:00 PM


By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Austin Rooney, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- An airman assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) recently donated bone marrow, which was used to save the life of a 6-year-old girl.

He may not have rows of ribbons pinned to his chest or rank insignia displayed on his collar, but Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Joshua Alexander does have one major accomplishment that sets him apart from the rest - he helped save a life.

It all began on June 25 aboard TR, Alexander's first duty station. He learned that he was a possible match to donate bone marrow to a young girl with a potentially deadly disease.

"I was very surprised to hear I matched," said Alexander, "But it wasn't a hard choice; I'm always helping people out, always donating blood. This was just something new to do."

After Alexander agreed to go through with the procedure, he went to Sewells Point Branch Medical Clinic in Norfolk, Va., to get blood work done so the doctors could be sure he was a match. After doctors verified Alexander was a match, Alexander was flown to George Washington University in Washington for the actual procedure.

Alexander received permission to bring a guest along for the all-expense-paid trip.

"I brought my dad along for the trip," said Alexander. "It was a great experience."

The relatively new procedure starts off by giving the donor a shot one week prior to the extraction. The shot helps to pull bone marrow into the donor's blood stream. During the extraction, blood is taken from one arm and spun through a machine that picks out the marrow cells, while feeding all of the remaining blood back into the donor's other arm.

"It wasn't painful," said Alexander. "When most people hear about bone marrow donation they think there's going to be a big needle, but it's really not like that. It's painless, and it only lasts about four hours."

There is a waiting period of one year before the donor is allowed to contact the bone marrow recipient. Alexander said he would like to meet the young girl who received his marrow as soon as the waiting period is over.

Alexander's supervisor, Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW/SW) Bryon Dreading, said Alexander always sets a good example for his peers.

"I wouldn't have guessed that he'd have done this at first," said Dreading. "But when the kid says he's going to do something, he does it."

Dreading also added that Alexander has always been a good worker and regularly goes out of his way to help other people.

Alexander encourages anyone who finds out they are a potential match to go through with the procedure. He said, if he had the opportunity to do it again, he would.

"If you get selected, I recommend it," said Alexander. "I definitely feel like I made
a difference."

TR, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, was commissioned Oct. 25, 1986. The 1,092-foot ship is currently undergoing a planned refueling complex overhaul at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding.

Learn more about "America's Big Stick," TR, by visiting www.tr.surfor.navy.mil.

For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.

E-mail this story to a friend | Send a comment about this story

Related Stories: