Dr. Anh Nguyen Reiss is a 43 year old mother, a doctor, and a Vietnamese immigrant who was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in February 2009.
Anh's only cure is a stem cell transplant. MDS is a disease of the bone marrow stem cell very similar to acute leukemia. It causes the bone marrow to produce ineffective red and white blood cells and platelets. Approximately 1/3 of patients with MDS progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within months to a few years. But MDS patients also face other life-threatening dangers, such as a weak immune system and internal bleeding and hemorrhaging. Anh has been undergoing chemotherapy and regular blood transfusions to stabilize her red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets levels , but she is in a race to find a matching Asian or Vietnamese stem cell donor.
Dr. Reiss is a caring doctor who has touched countless lives. She has delivered some 3,000 babies in Houston! She's an ob/gyn at Memorial Herman Southwest. Besides delivering some 300 babies a year in private practice Anh also provides emergency care for indigent patients. Now you can help save Anh's life.
CLICK HERE to save Anh and others like her.
All it takes is four swabs of your cheeks. It's quick and painless to register and free for ethnic minorities. Asians, especially Vietnamese are urgently needed because they are under-represented in the marrow and stem cell registry. Once you've registered you can help Anh by:
- Setting up your own drive. It's very easy.
- Volunteering at a local drive.
- Telling a friend Anh's story.
Dr. Reiss encourages her patients to live a healthy life, and she regularly exercises. But exercise and living a healthy life cannot prevent blood and marrow diseases like MDS. Anh's diagnosis is shocking to her family and friends because MDS usually afflicts men more often then women and people over the age of 70 years old. It rarely affects people under the age of 60. Blood and marrow disease can happen to anyone or anyone's family member. Registering now can not only save Anh, but possibly others who you might know and love.
 Anh's Family Anh and her husband Josh, have 2 children. The couple met while at Rice University and have been married for 20 years. Their children are 14 and 18.
Dr. Anh Nguyen Reiss Day
To raise awareness of bone marrow diseases and the need to register on the marrow registry, Harris County TX (which includes Houston TX) declared Friday June 26 2009 Dr. Anh Nguyen Reiss Day.
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