Council highlights donor drive for 3-year-old needing bone marrow transplant

A City Council presentation on the city chamber floor urged residents to register as potential bone marrow donors for 3-year-old Kyle Bridal, who officials and family members said needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.

"This Saturday, Northridge Fashion Center in Northridge is having a donor testing and registration drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.," a presenter told the council and viewers. The presenter said there is "no comparable bone marrow donor for him" and urged community members to come forward to be tested and registered.

Angie Rivera of the American Red Cross said the National Marrow Donor Registry has about 3,000,000 people enrolled but that the registry’s ethnic mix reduces match likelihood for some patients. "Of those 3,000,000 people, 7% are Asian Pacific Islander, 5% are Latino, 4% are African American ... and the Caucasian population makes 70% of the registry," Rivera said, urging broader representation so more patients can find matches.

Council members who introduced the presentation thanked organizers and encouraged the public to attend the drive and consider registration. The council did not take formal action on the presentation; the item was an informational appeal to residents and the community.