HeartShare assists individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities and provides vital services to children and families.

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Ralph Subbiondo

Recent News HeartShare's Chairman Needs Your Help

HeartShare's Board of Directors Chairman, Ralph Subbiondo, has spent his life helping others. Now, he needs help. Recently, Ralph was diagnosed with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia. In August, he successfully underwent treatment and now is in temporary remission with more treatments to come. The good news is that this disease can be cured with a bone marrow transplant.

While there are lots of risks, Ralph and his doctors are confident he can handle the process and the risks because of his overall good health. The bone marrow transplant doctor at Sloan-Kettering has started a search for a donor. While she and Ralph are optimistic that a donor can be found in the National Marrow Donor Registry, having more potential donors is always a good thing. Accordingly, we ask you to consider registering with the National Marrow Donor Registry and becoming a potential donor for Ralph or another person in need.

The process is easy. Go to the Registry web site - Marrow.org - and register. You will be sent a swab that you wipe on the inside of your cheek and mail it back. Pretty easy and simple. If you match Ralph, or someone else, they will contact you for a blood sample and ensure you are in good health. The actual donation is like giving blood, except they use both arms. The web site has a full description of the process.

There are certain criteria to determine eligibility for donating bone marrow:

  • You must be between the age of 18 and 60
  • You are in good overall health and meet certain medical guidelines available at marrow.org
  • You will donate to any patient in need. You can remove yourself from the National Registry at any time.
  • You live in the United States or Puerto Rico
  • You are not in the U.S. Military

Ralph has been a member of HeartShare's Board of Directors since 1996 and was elected Chairman in 2002. Not only is he passionate about HeartShare and its work, he also volunteers with hands-on building for our nation's homeless. In addition to raising money and building homes, Ralph served as a senior financial advisor for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

Please join in helping Ralph find a bone marrow donor by visiting Marrow.org.