Chicago Cops Hold Bone Marrow Drive To Save Officer With Leukemia

Caption: A bone marrow drive will be held for Chicago Police Officer Blanca Magallon, 43, who has been battling leukemia since July.

A desperate search is under way to find a bone marrow donor for a Chicago police officer diagnosed with leukemia.

Officer Blanca Magallon, 43, has been battling leukemia since July. Her fellow officers from the 11th District are holding a bone marrow drive for the devoted wife and mother of four children.

Like 70 percent of leukemia patients, Officer Magallon does not have a donor match in her family.

The Magallon family has partnered with BeTheMatch.org to register possible marrow donors between the ages of 18-44. No needles are used, just a simple cheek swab is needed.

BeTheMatch says a patient’s likelihood of finding a donor match on the registry ranges from 76 percent to 97 percent. A person’s best chance of finding a donor match is from someone from the same ancestry.

If a match, the process is similar to a blood donation.

Friends have also started a GoFundMe page for Officer Magallon, who has been undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, has had virtually no contact with her four daughters, ages 2, 4, 6 and 18. She needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.

The Chicago Police Department will be holding a bone marrow drive for Office Magallon from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at Chicago Police 11th District, 3151 W. Harrison St.