Family hopes for match in bone marrow drive

MARLBORO — The Culmone family is asking their neighbors and fellow residents for some assistance. Tom Culmone has been battling Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) for three years and is now in need of a stem cell transplant.

The Marlboro Knights of Columbus have been joined by the Marlboro Improvement and Cultural Fund to host a bone marrow drive on Jan. 17 at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Wyncrest Road. The bone marrow drive will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tom Culmone became a member of the Knights of Columbus after he and his wife, Jo-Ann, moved their family to Marlboro 10 years ago.

"I feel fortunate to be a part of the Marlboro family, the residents here really take care of one another," Tom Culmone said.

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Internet Web site, CLL is one of four main types of leukemia. The site states that about 90,179 people, most of whom are at least 50 years old, are currently living with CLL, which is more than any of the other forms of leukemia.

"CLL starts with a change to a single cell called a lymphocyte. Over time, the CLL cells multiply and replace normal lymphocytes in the marrow and lymph nodes. The high number of CLL cells in the marrow may crowd out normal blood-forming cells, and CLL cells are not able to fight infection like normal lymphocytes do," the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Web site states.

Since being diagnosed with CLL, Culmone has placed his career as a Wall Street trader on hold because the daily commute and stress of the job was taking a toll on his health. He has now taken on the role of primary caretaker for his children, Christina, Melissa and Thomas Jr.

The Culmones have learned to appreciate every day they have together.

"When we first started going to oncologists' offices, the atmosphere of the patients and caretakers was always cheerful, which I couldn't understand. I felt devastated to become a part of this world of battling disease. But now, three years later, I understand it. Families that endure the terrifying journey of life-threatening illness acquire a tremendous understanding of how precious every moment of life truly is. When you've spent so much time crying, it's important to take advantage of every opportunity to laugh," Jo-Ann Culmone said.

Tom Culmone said even the most ordinary day spent with his wife and children is a gift.

The Culmone family and the local organizations involved have teamed with DKMS, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give every blood cancer patient a second chance at life by recruiting bone marrow donors from every race and ethnicity.

DKMS was founded in Germany in 1991 by Peter Harf and Professor Dr. Gerhard Ehninger. Today, DKMS is the world's largest marrow donor center with more than 1.8 million registered bone marrow donors. Since its founding, DKMS has facilitated more than 15,000 transplants, according to information provided by the group.

As a nonprofit organization, DKMS relies on the generosity of individuals to help finance the $65 cost DKMS pays to tissuetype each bone marrow donor who registers. Donations to DKMS can be made by check, payable to DKMS Americas or online at www.dkmsamericas.org.

Registering as a bone marrow donor is a simple and pain-free procedure which only requires a cotton swab to be rubbed across the inside of a person's cheek. The Culmone family is hoping that not only is a donor found for Tom Culmone, but also for the roughly 10,000 other people in need.

For those wishing to register on Jan. 17 there are a few requirements. Potential donors must be between the ages of 18 and 55, and be in general good health. Individuals must not be HIV positive or at risk for AIDS, not have severe heart disease, a history of cancer (cervical, breast and bladder cancer Stage 0 and cured skin cancer are acceptable), severe asthma (daily inhalers are acceptable), diabetes requiring insulin, hepatitis, epilepsy, chronic or severe back problems or surgery. Individuals with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis are not able to register as a potential donor.

The bone marrow drive will be held exactly three years from the date of Tom Culmone's diagnosis and the family hopes to change the significance of the date from one of tragedy to one of triumph.

Contact Rebecca Morton at marlboro@gmnews.com