KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- As National Marrow Awareness Month comes to a close, Keesler Airmen are highlighting the Department of Defense’s Salute to Life program, a donor registry that connects service members with patients in need of lifesaving bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
Tech. Sgts. Austin Cooperrider and Austin Gibson, 333rd Training Squadron instructors, serve as Keesler’s representatives for the program, coordinating directly with Salute to Life headquarters in Washington, D.C. Their mission is to educate Airmen about the need for donors and guide anyone interested through the registration process by routinely briefing at squadrons, commander's calls and base events.
“We’re essentially the belly button on base,” Cooperrider said. “We’re the link between Keesler and the national program. Our job is to answer questions, help people register and get the message in front of as many Airmen as we can.”
Cooperrider said the need for donors is driven by the seriousness of the diagnoses involved. Many patients rely on bone marrow or stem cell transplants as their best chance for survival, and suitable matches can be difficult to find. “Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with an illness that needs a bone marrow or stem cell donation as the cure,” he said. “And every six minutes, someone loses that fight.”
Because matches depend on specific genetic markers, family members are unlikely to be suitable donors, making national registries critical. Gibson said many Airmen hesitate because they picture an invasive procedure, but most donations no longer resemble that. “In very few cases are they actually drawing bone marrow from the donor,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s peripheral blood stem cells, basically a process similar to plasma donation.”
Gibson explained that donors are given medication to increase the quantity of needed cells before undergoing apheresis, a procedure that separates those cells from the blood and returns everything else to the body. He said the process is far less intimidating than many assume. “It’s not nearly as daunting as it used to be,” he said. “Side effects are minimal, and most of the time, it’s just like donating plasma.”
In the small percentage of cases requiring anesthesia and a needle to the hip, Cooperrider said the temporary discomfort is worth the outcome. “A little hip soreness is far better than a young child not getting the donation they need,” he said.
Airmen register by completing a brief medical form and a cheek swab that’s mailed to the program’s headquarters. Cooperrider noted that most people are eligible unless they have chronic medical conditions requiring continuous medication. If someone matches a patient, Salute to Life conducts a full medical screening before proceeding.
Both representatives said service members are often strong donor candidates because of their age, overall health and existing medical screening standards. DoD policy also supports participation. “It’s a permissive TDY so no leave taken, expenses covered and you can bring a wingman,” Cooperrider said. “Most companies won’t give you paid time off to go donate. The military will.”
Gibson said the importance of registering extends well beyond the observance month. “If you’re a match, you could literally save someone’s life,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
Airmen interested in joining the registry or learning more about Salute to Life can visit salutetolife.org or contact Keesler’s program representatives.