MATT JOHNSON

Donor found for Matt Johnson

posted 05/03/2008
A donor has been found for Matt Johnson, the 1992 FHHS grad with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a rare blood disease. A 28-year-old female will donate bone marrow. A fundraiser is planned for May 17 at the county Fairgrounds to help pay for the medical costs not covered by insurance.

Johnson started his preparation for the bone marrow transplant with a physical and another blood transfusion on Thursday May 1. Until the point of beginning chemo on May 17, he'll be in and out Fred Hutchison with various tests. They'll be continuing with physical testing and provide education regarding food safety and what will be expected after the transplant which is tentatively scheduled for May 23.

More good news is that instead of a six-day chemo regime for Matt, three days out patient and three days in the hospital, they’ve been told that he will NOT need to be hospitalized for the last half of the chemo or for the three weeks after transplant. Instead, the chemo will be a five day course, which will be easier on him, during which time he and Jackie will be at a condo close to the hospital they had to rent in the event he needs to go in and out of the hospital during that time.

Update on Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson and his wife Jackie received "some GREAT news! Although Matt's HLA typing is still not 100 percent complete, the doctors are able to confidently say that Matt has a "common" bone marrow type. This means that a donor match should be able to be identified" The couple, both Friday Harbor High School graduates, have a WEB SITE which has the latest information about his battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a rare blood disease.

A bone marrow transplant is needed. He has health but the transplant will far exceed the limit. A Fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank. If you’d like to help out financially, please go to any Wells Fargo Branch to donate. Checks must be made out to the Matt Johnson Family Benefit Fund.

Fundraisers are currently being organized. A local dinner, auction, and dance will be held Saturday, May 17 in Friday Harbor. Items are being sought for both a silent and live auction. They can be dropped off at Islanders Insurance office at 545 Spring Street. Please contact Nancy Jones 378-5467, Dianne Hall 298-0637, or Jane Gerhardstein 378-4321 if you are interested in donating an item for the auction.

More than 300 sign up for donor registry during
Bone Marrow drive for Matt Johnson

posted 03/18/2008
Puget Sound Blood Center staff suggested 60 forms would be adequate for a bone marrow drive in a small community. Margaret Johnson said, "You don't know Friday Harbor." She ended up asking for 400 forms figuring she could always return the unused ones. There were few left at the end of the two-day drive as more than 300 people signed up, hoping to be a match for her son, Matt Johnson.

The 1992 graduate of Friday Harbor High School has been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This very rare blood disease is a precursor to Acute Myelodysplastic Leukemia. His only hope for cure is a stem cell transplant.

Matt and his wife Jackie,(formerly Jackie King), also a FHHS graduate, and their four children, Dustin 7, Tesa 4, and twin girls Taylor and Jordan 15 months, live in Lake Stevens, where Matt supports his family as an electrical contractor.

Matt’s MDS is an aggressive form and it’s critical that he find a match immediately. A bone marrow drive in Matt’s honor, took place in Friday Harbor March 18 and 19, 2008. This expedited placement of potential donors, aged 18 to 61, to the National Bone Marrow Registry.

If you were tested before during previous bone marrow drives and your name and contact information remain the same you do not need to be tested again.

For those who live off island and would like to know where to donate, please go to www.psbc.org for more information.

If you have any questions please call: Margaret at 360.472-0123, or Greg at 360.378-2151.

Your Prayers for a match and cure for Matt are sincerely appreciated, Matt, Jackie, Dustin, Tesa, Taylor and Jordyn Johnson
Kerwin, Margaret, Ben and Vanessa Johnson,
Rick and Karen King
Steve and Kelli King
Greg and Natalie King

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