PHOTO | AALIYAH BOWDEN

DKMS hosted a ribbon-cutting for its new bone marrow donor center at 77 Center Drive in Charlotte. the international nonprofit's mission is eradicating blood cancers and disease like leukemia and sickle cell.

The new southeast headquarters of the world’s largest blood stem cell donor center is in Charlotte.

DKMS held a ribbon-cutting last week for its bone marrow donor center at 5311 77 Center Drive. The international nonprofit is dedicated to eradicating blood cancers and blood disorders such as leukemia and sickle cell disease.

“When looking for our new DKMS U.S. headquarters in the southeast, Charlotte immediately stood out to us; not only is this city developing rapidly, but the diversity of the community, the population and business opportunities made Charlotte an easy yes,” said Dr. Elke Neujahr, DKMS’s CEO. “Charlotte truly is a big city with a small-town feel, and that is just what we need to further our mission of giving as many second chances at life as possible through blood stem cell donations.”

On site, attendees enjoyed selfie stations and completed cheek swabs to register as potential blood stem cell donors. There were also tours of the new facility complete with comfy chairs and couches, full-scale kitchen, and offices.

“I know people worked long and hard to get this place up and running,” said Michael Orzech, chief operating officer of the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce. “We appreciate that hard work. We appreciate what you're bringing to the community. We're excited to have you as part of our business community.”

The new leadership team in Charlotte includes Carrie Klamut, head of donor recruitment and communications and Sandy Barnett, head of community engagement and development.

“We are so excited to be opening this new office here in Charlotte,” said Klamut. “We look forward to the many opportunities the Southeast region brings, and we look forward to becoming part of the community.”

Jasmine Thompson, a mother from Charlotte shared her story of donating her blood stem cells after her best friend lost her battle with sickle cell disease.
“I knew Keke since we were about maybe 7 or 8 [years old],” said Thompson. “We kind of grew up together and there would be good days and bad days. Some days will just be you know, normal kids’ stuff and then other times, my mom says ‘Keke’s in the hospital. Let’s go up there.’”

When Thompson was a freshman at Wingate University, she joined the DKMS registry. Two years later, she received a phone call that she was a match for a young girl battling sickle cell. At age 21, she donated her stem cells ultimately saving the young girl’s life.

Most Black people who battle with blood cancer are less likely to be matched with a donor. Out of the millions of donors on the Be The Match Registry, four percent are African American.

Patients and donors that are not related are more likely to be compatible if they are of the same ethnicity.

Blacks living with illnesses such as Leukemia or SCD, have a 23% chance of finding a transplant donor while whites have a 77% chance of finding a match.

During a bone marrow transplant, stem cells can be retrieved from the donor’s blood or bone marrow. Another way is through a nonsurgical procedure known as peripheral blood stem cell transplant in which the donor is given injections five days before the procedure to increase blood-forming cells within their bloodstream.

On the day of surgery, blood is removed from the arm through a needle and passed through a machine that will collect only the blood-forming cells.

Thompson hopes her decision to donate will encourage more African Americans to also donate their stem cells to someone in need.

“You say you want to support the Black community,” she said. “This is one way to actually do that and help the Black community and the Latino community. Leukemia affects us too, but specifically sickle cell affects our population in a way that it doesn't affect other populations. We have to advocate for ourselves.”

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