Dedication to serve bone deep for local recruiter

Published Sept. 19, 2008
By Master Sgt. Carrie Rios
367th Recruiting Squadron

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- June 25th started like any other day for Staff Sgt. Corey Baczkowski, a recruiter in Littleton, Colo. Like most days, he was processing application packages to help Denver-area residents join the U.S. Air Force. But this day would be different.

That morning, the 367th Recruiting Squadron NCO received a phone call from Naomi Clark of the C. W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program. Mrs. Clark told Sergeant Baczkowski that he was a match for a 41-year-old man who suffered from advanced lymphoma.

After a precautionary physical exam, Sergeant Baczkowski traveled to Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver. There the Grand Junction, Colo., native completed a series of shots to increase his body's production of blood stem cells. This was followed by a five-hour procedure on Aug. 18 to remove the life-saving cells.

On the day of the donation, the recruiter's blood was removed through a needle in one arm, it passed through a machine which separated the stem cells from the blood, and then the blood was returned through a needle in the recruiter's other arm. To be successful, the donation would require 412 million blood stem cells. Sergeant Baczkowski produced well over three times the amount of cells needed at more than one billion cells. The excess cells were stored for possible use by the advanced lymphoma patient, if needed.

Sergeant Baczkowski received Mrs. Clark's call because of a decision he made three years earlier. Back in 2005, he chose to register as a bone marrow donor while giving blood at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, where he served as a C-130 crew chief.

"It was very easy and painless to register," the 12 year Air Force veteran said of the registration process which only required some paperwork and a little extra blood for tests. "I never thought about it again until I got the call this summer."

Today the Defense Department bone marrow program generates the largest volume of marrow for patients throughout the world. One of the reasons this particular marrow program is successful is because of the number of U.S. servicemembers who volunteer to help. For example the military is the nation's largest source of whole-blood donations. Additionally, servicemembers, more so than any other large organization, meet the strict health and age requirements to be potential marrow and blood stem cell donors.

All active-duty military, their immediate dependents, DOD civilian employees, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists, ages 18 to 60, are eligible to participate in this program. People interested can call 1-800-MARROW-3 (1-800-627-7693) or visit the program Web site at www.dodmarrow.org for more information or to register.

367th RCS bone marrow donor