Be The Match

Cancer University Of South Alabama A Mobile nursing school graduate is using her battle with cancer to raise awareness about the need for bone marrow donors.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Mon, June 29, 2009 - 4:46 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, June 29, 2009 - 5:33 pm CST

Morgan Lee, 28, planned to live her life helping people.

"She shines. She's bubbly, and she's just always so fully of life," says Pam Johnson, a professor from the University of South Alabama's College of Nursing.

Just one month before Morgan graduated from nursing school, fatigue and flu-like symptoms sent her to the emergency room. A spinal tap resulted in a diagnosis no one wants to hear.

"They came back into the emergency room that she was in and told her that her white (blood cell) count was 74,000. A normal white count is 4,000 to 10,000," says Morgan's sister, Holly Zampieri. "Right then they knew they were looking at some form of Leukemia," she said.

Morgan traveled to UAB Medical Center where she has spent the last six months, on and off, undergoing chemotherapy. She knew she could one day need a bone marrow transplant to fully recovery and quickly learned how hard it is to find a match.

Even from her hospital bed, Morgan managed to find a way to make a difference. With the help of former professors and classmates from USA, Morgan, organized a bone marrow drive. The drive was not only intended to help Morgan, but she also hoped it would raise awareness and help add new donors to the national registry.

It was a noble cause that became even more noble last week.

"Doctors were running tests," said Zampieri, remembering a phone call from her sister. "The chemo was not effective and the leukemia cells were still in her body." The news means, at least for now, Morgan is no longer a candidate for a transplant. Nonetheless, she insists the drive must go on!

"She knows it may not benefit her, but she knows it may help someone else," says Johnson.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers has agreed to waive a $75 swab test fee if you visit any of their blood banks in Mobile or Baldwin County and agree to donate blood while you're there.

You can also sign up online on the Be The Match website. You can receive a free swab test in the mail by entering the promo code HCN9.

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snews Says:

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 2:43 pm

In August of 2006 I was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. I got two rounds of ara-c and after about a year I achieved remission. I have been in remission now for almost two years.

Morgan, if you see this…thank you from the bottom of my heart. The life you save may well be mine. You are a beautiful young lady inside and out. Eventually your hair will grow back. Eventually your friends will be able to look at you without fear and pity in their eyes. Eventually food will start to taste good again (really good, actually). Eventually you will be able to go to the bathroom without dragging that #%*#@ pole with you! Eventually life will be fun again (I was prepared for the hairloss, tiredness and hurling. I was NOT prepared for the boredom). I’m not a praying man but I will gladly say one for you if you believe it will help. I have been where you are now and it is my profoundest hope that you find the same good fortune and remarkable care that I did.

sydric Says:

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 12:04 pm

God bless you Morgan, I would love to donate to you, but I also am a cancer patient. I tried to get the media interested to follow me thru this, as a public informer about Pancreatic Cancer. I am proud of you for bring awareness to your type of cancer.
God Bless you, I truly know how you are feeling.

donor-recruiter Says:

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 10:43 am

Morgan my prayers are with you. I have helped with several two marrow and blood drives for you so far and I promise I will continue to spread the word on the importance of joining the marrow registry. It is people like you that make me realize just how important my job is. I want everyone to please stopped by LifeSouth Community Blood Center at 967 Hillcrest Rd Mobile, and donate blood and join the registry. There are many patients like Morgan counting on you.
God bless you Morgan!!

cherieharris1970 Says:

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 5:26 am

You are in my prayers my new friend. I just finished registering online to become a donor and I will be recieving my test kit in the mail within a few days. I really hope lots of other people will do the same. Stay Strong!!!

nfrench Says:

Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 10:20 pm

Many many prayers. I dont know what it takes to be a bone marrow donor but would love to be tested and willing to donate if I could help someone else. Please let me know what I need to do. I pray that your able to over come your battle with leukemia. Keep your faith and know that with God all things are possible. Thank you for bringing this to the communities attention. I applaud your hard work while undergoing chemo. You will make a great nurse! May God Bless!
The French Family

rmseek1234 Says:

Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 8:21 pm

You make the nursing profession proud-you are a true example of WHAT a nurse is-putting others first. I’ll be praying for your recovery.