DETROIT
I
Bone Marrow Donor
Needed For Survival
LESLEY PEARL
Staff Writer
R
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aphael Maurice
Herschfus beat the
odds once. He's hop-
ing God and luck are on his
side again.
Nearly six years ago, the
Oak Park dentist was diag-
nosed with aplastic anemia
— the lack of production of
white blood cells by the
body. His chances of survival
were targeted at 10 percent.
An experimental drug called
ATG and the expertise of the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle,
Wash., fit him into that
small range of survival.
Now Dr. Herschfus is bat-
tling his body again.
Nine months ago, during a
routine physical examina-
tion, Dr. Herschfus's physi-
cian noticed a problem in
blood count. A biopsy con-
firmed Dr. Herschfus had
myelodysplastic syndrome
— a form of leukemia where
white blood cells over-
produce but do not mature,
crowding out red blood cells
and platelets. A bone
marrow transplant is Dr.
Herschfus' only chance of
survival.
"Miracles do happen. I
proved that once already,"
Dr. Herschfus said.
The members of Shomrey
Emunah, the congregation
Dr. Herschfus belongs to, are
trying to make sure it
happens.
Sunday, Aug. 23, from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., a donor mat-
ching drive will be held at
the synagogue at 25451
Southfield Rd.
"The synagogue has done
blood drives before," Dr.
Herschfus said. "Members
thought this would be just as
easy. The whole community
is coming together for me."
The procedure for screen-
ing is referred to as HLA
typing. It involves only a
blood test. Potential bone
marrow donors' blood is run
through a series of tests to
determine compatibility. A
six of six match is perfect.
Doctors can use a four or five
match.
It is preferable that the
donor is a family member —
the similar genes lessen the
chance of rejection by the
body. If a family member
does not match closely, the
next best option is a member
of the same ethnic group.
If a suitable donor is found,
bone marrow is extracted
from the hip and given to the
patient intravenously after
chemotherapy has wiped the
non-functioning cells from
the body.
If Dr. Herschfus finds a
donor, his chances of sun
vival range between 25 and
50 percent.
A few months ago, the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center (named
after the former Detroit
Tigers coach, Dr. Herschfus
added) located two potential
donors — one in Holland, the
other in France. One match
was not close enough and the
other donor backed out.
Dr. Herschfus said he i23
not bitter and understands
the fear of potential donors,
although there is virtually
no risk involved in the
extraction of bone marrow.
The best hope for Dr.
Herschfus now is his infart
daughter. She is a four of six
match and a family member
— a good chance for accep-
tance of the bone marrow.
However, Dr. Herschfus will
have to wait at least six
months before the surgery
can be performed due to the
small size of the infant.
Doctors aren't sure Dr.
Herschfus can wait that
long.
For more information
about donor matching, cal'
557-4007 or 559-2295. ❑
NEWS
Group Files
Material Claims
New York (JTA) — A new
international coalition of
Jewish groups has been
formed in Jerusalem to seek
restitution for Jewish in-
dividual and communal
assets seized by Nazi and
communist governments iri
Eastern Europe.
The formation of the Jew-
ish Restitution Organiza-
tion, which united eight es-
tablished Jewish groups,
marks the first effort to ad-
dress reparations from East-
ern European nations._
rather than just Germany.
The decision to launch this '
project was made in June in
Madrid during a meeting of
the Conference of Jewish
Material Claims Again
Germany, which is a mem-
E.
ber of the new group.
Edgar Bronfman, presi-
dent of the World Jewish'
Congress, which is also a c,
constituent of the new
group, will serve as chair-
man.