Marin Boy In Urgent Need Of Bone Marrow Transplant​

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A teenage boy in Marin County is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant, and the San Rafael Pacifics baseball team is trying to help find a match.

Daniel Rose, 15, of San Rafael, has a rare form of leukemia that is resistant to traditional chemotherapy. Because he has an unusual bone marrow profile and his doctors have not found a match in national registries, his family and friends have launched a bone marrow donor registration drive and enlisted help from the professional baseball team.

Daniel's mom Kathryn Rose said that finding a donor for her son is like finding a needle in a haystack.

"But we have to try. And even if we can't find a donor for him, we might for someone else," Rose said.

In January, Daniel struggled to recover from what his mom initially thought was the flu. Blood tests revealed Daniel, a Marin Catholic high school student, had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare type of leukemia most common in children.

After four weeks of chemotherapy, Daniel did not make the expected remission timeline. Genetic testing revealed that his rare form of leukemia is resistant to traditional chemotherapy.

Following chemo, Daniel participated in a CAR-T cell infusion therapy trial in April. The new cells thrived and killed off his leukemia, but the warrior cells have now died off. Daniel needs a new immune system – a bone marrow transplant.

The San Rafael Pacifics got involved with Daniel's cause after they heard about his story from a family friend who has hosted Pacifics players at her home for the last four summers.

A "Donor For Daniel" booth will be open next to the baseball field during the July 6 Pacifics home game at Albert Park. Anyone between the ages of 18-55 is asked to register as a potential bone marrow donor. Registration takes about two minutes and is done with a cheek swab, which is then sent off to a national registry for testing.

The Pacifics have invited Daniel and his cousin Barry James Casey, a recent University of Texas graduate and All-American college player, to throw out the first pitch in the game against the Salina Stockade.

The "Donor For Daniel" booth will be open from 5-8 p.m. July 6 at Albert Park, 155 Andersen Drive, San Rafael. The game begins at 6 p.m.

Can't attend the game? Register as a potential bone marrow donor by requesting a home cheek swab kit.

Learn more and donate to Daniel.

(NOTE: Please note the Pacifics moved their game time after publication. The time has been updated to reflect that change.)