"I didn’t know that the first "real world" job I'd encounter while finishing my bachelor's degree at UCLA would be a highly aggressive attempt to fight for own my life. Cancer seems to thrive on chaos, especially when a biological deviation of the norm manifests in a young, healthy person's body."Last week, Janina Montero, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at UCLA, took an unusual and unprecedented step to support Janet by contacting the UCLA student body with a formal letter of official acknowledgement and support.
"Since my diagnosis with acute leukemia over eight months ago, I have been struggling to gain a sense of order and composure to what has been happening to me and other patients. I have seen firsthand the devastating look of horror and disbelief among patients on my hospital floor when they are denied the opportunity for a second chance at life when race and ethnicity matter in marrow donation matches."
In the letter, Montero strong encourages students to register at the upcoming Asians for Miracle Matches bone marrow drive to be held on campus, during Bruin Health Week, May 5-7, 10:00am - 2:00pm.
She writes: "Completing a bone marrow donation is now a much simpler proposition, so I hope you will consider registering as a potential donor, and if it helps to put a face on someone who might be helped, please think of Janet Liang."
The Team Janet UCLA Mega Drive will be held this week at Bruin Plaza. I know a lot of UCLA students are reading this -- I encourage you to please register at the drive. And if you can't make it, you can always send for a home registry kit.
Janet is entering her tenth month of treatment and is preparing for two more months of high dosage chemotherapy. Her friends tell me that she's been a trooper and advocate through it all. For more information about Janet Liang, her fight against leukemia, and what you can do to help, visit HelpingJanet.com.