Aplastic anemia (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE mee-uh) is a rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Any blood cells the marrow does make are normal, but there are not enough of them. Aplastic anemia can be moderate, severe, or very severe (Jake's case is very severe). Those with severe or very severe aplastic anemia are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding. Most scientists believe that aplastic anemia happens when the immune system attacks the bone marrow stem cells.

Although aplastic anemia can appear at any age, in any race or gender, it is diagnosed more often in children and young adults. It can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be hereditary. About 3 out of every 1 million people in the United States get aplastic anemia each year.

Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells (red and white blood cells and platelets) are formed in the bone marrow.

Anyone - anywhere in the world, regardless of blood type - can help in 3 SIMPLE WAYS:

1. Do a simple, free Cheek Swab test to see if you are bone marrow match for Jake. Visit Jake's bethematch.org registration page: join.bethematch.org/matchjake for a free swab kit and instructions.

   For those outside the US, check out this list of International Bone Marrow Registries.

2. "Like" us on Facebook. Your “like” & all the follow up “shares” on Jake’s Facebook page will GREATLY increase his chances of finding a matching marrow donor!
3. Learn more at:
   cheekswab.org
   bethematch.org
   Our 3-step Cheek Swab Guide

Jake receives daily medications as well as weekly doctor's appointments, blood tests, and transfusions. He is in the process of seeking a donor for a bone marrow transplant, which can potentially lead to a complete recovery.

See the 'How Can I Help Jake?' section of this FAQ to learn about becoming a potential donor.

There are a few easy ways to follow Jake's progress:

facebook.com/MatchJake - Jake's Facebook page
twitter.com/matchjake - Jake's Twitter page
youtube.com/matchjake - Jake's youTube channel
vimeo.com/matchjake - Jake's Vimeo channel
subscribe@matchjake.org- stay connected through email

Useful information:

3-step Cheek Swab Guide - our step by step breakdown of the process
cheekswab.org: - learn even more about the simple Cheek Swab test
bethematch.org - learn about the National Marrow Donor Program
join.bethematch.org/matchjake - order the free Cheek Swab kit
list of International Bone Marrow Registries - for potential donors outside the US
aamds.org - Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation

Stay connected & share Jake's story:

facebook.com/MatchJake - Jake's Facebook page
twitter.com/matchjake - Jake's Twitter page
youtube.com/matchjake - Jake's youTube channel
vimeo.com/matchjake - Jake's Vimeo channel
subscribe@matchjake.org - stay connected through email

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure in which bone marrow stem cells are collected from a donor and given to the patient through an intravenous (IV) line. In time, donated stem cells start making new, healthy blood cells.

1. See if you're a bone marrow match for Jake through a simple, painless, and free Cheek Swab test. Visit Jake's bethematch.org registration page: join.bethematch.org/matchjake to order a Cheek Swab kit. A kit will be mailed to you for free, and it's as easy as opening the kit, swabbing your cheek with a Q-tip, and mailing it back for free.

   For those outside the US, visit this list of International Bone Marrow Registries.

2. If you're a match, your life-giving cells can be donated through a simple procedure as painless as giving blood. Donors are asked to donate via one of two procedures: Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation (70%), or marrow donation (30%).

   See our 3-step Cheek Swab Guide to learn about getting started.

There two bone marrow donation processes (from cheekswab.org):

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation - 70% of matched donors are asked to complete a PBSC donation, is a non-invasive outpatient procedure very similar to donating blood. Donors are given a shot of a drug called filgrastim for five consecutive days which increases the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. After five days, donors are hooked to a machine which extracts blood from their arm, irradiates out the blood-forming cells via a process call apheresis, and returns the blood back to the body through their other arm.

Marrow Donation - 30% of matched donors are asked to complete a marrow donation. Marrow donation is a surgical procedure completed under general anaesthesia (donors are put to sleep). During marrow donation, doctors use hollow needles to extract marrow directly from the hip of the patient, commonly through two small holes in the small of the back.