A Miracle Match

The community came together for an amazing turn out on Sunday, December 21 for the Warter Strong Bone Marrow Drive.
Oren Warter, a 44 year old Livingston resident and father of three, was recently diagnosed with Acute Myologenous Leukemia (AML) is currently undergoing intense chemotherapy and is in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

At the drive, held at Temple Bnai Abraham in Livingston, NJ, hundreds and hundreds of people came, got swabbed, donated and joined together in spirit for this life-saving cause. All 500 testing kits were used, over $18,000 was raised (a total of over $44,00 and growing) to process those kits and support others in need. The drive was coordinated by Gift of Life, one the nation’s leading bone marrow and stem cell registries. Through its life-saving work, Gift of Life is a world leader in helping children and adults find the matches they need when they need them.

The family posted the following message on Facebook thanking everyone for their support:
“There are so many times in the past 6 weeks since Oren’s diagnosis that we have said the phrase ‘there are no words’. We have used that phrase to describe the good, bad and overwhelming feelings our family has experienced. Sunday, at the Warter Strong Bone Marrow Drive, there truly are no words to describe the day. The outpouring of love, support and kindness from family, friends, co-workers, strangers and the community as a whole was honestly palpable. The dedication and drive of all the volunteers who spent hours and some the whole day to be there with smiles on their face was contagious. The look of sheer joy as I watched our children go around the room and see and feel the support was the ultimate comfort. And the amazing, strong women (Jayme Tave, Debra Mistretta, Alison Givner, Meredith Torine and Marci Seidman) who put this incredible event together was beyond anything I could hope for. To say “thank you” doesn’t begin to describe what fills my heart when I think of everyone who came, got swabbed, donated money, ordered swab kits to be done at home, bought t-shirts, spread the word-and just came to show their support... Thank you thank you thank you from all of the Warters! Warter Strong!!!”