u National
MAUREEN SMITHE
Assistant News Editor
In light of sophomore Conor Murphy's struggles with leukemia, Notre Dame will host a bone marrow drive Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the LaFortune Ballroom.
The drive is another instance of the support for Murphy which has been growning since his diagnosis was made public before Spring Break. The drive is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Ministry.
"Our community and Conor need this," said Father Jim Lies, rector of Zahm Hall, where Murphy lives. "Conor needs to know that he is supported, and as a community we need to pull together."
Although an anonymous donor for Conor has been located from a registry of more than three million potential donors, the need for more donors is always there.
"The practical reality is that there are not enough donors available," Lies said. "While you may not match for Conor, you may one day be a match for someone else — someone who is someone's Conor."
In addition to the drive, members of the Notre Dame community have found other ways to support Murphy. Zahm has hosted Masses and held a 24-hour vigil for him and put together a banner, Lies said. Also, several of Murphy's friends have visited him on weekends.
"Conor suggested the drive and he is all for it — he knows your blood can save a life," said sophomore Wes Jacobs, a friend of Murphy's. "He has made a lot of people think twice about a lot of things."
"He is pretty excited about it. It was suggestion that regardless [of his finding a donor] we have the drive," said sophomore friend George Remus.
Original concerns surrounding the drive centered on a lack of funds.
"The cost for providing this blood sample is about $400. The United States government subsidizes to the amount of $300. The remaining $100 cost has to paid for by either the donor or the sponsor," Lies said. "Our attempts to raise money are ways of assuring that students don't have to pay. We will raise as much as we can so the drive will go on as long as possible."
Lies lends the most thanks to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Ministry for their donations. Other groups, however, have contributed as well. The Hall Presidents' Council has put together funds, and the London Program raised more than $700.
"They have already raised a ton of money," Remus said.
At the drive, donors will be asked for a $10 donation to defray the cost of the procedure. Lies stressed, however, that this fee will be easily waived for those who cannot contribute monetarily.
Lies said that he understands it will be impossible for everyone to donate Wednesday, but he said that prayer can be just as helpful.
"If you do nothing else for Conor, I would hope that you can just pray for him," Lies said. "The Grotto is a very special place to him, so if you can just stop there for a moment to reflect that would mean a lot to him.
"[Murphy's sickness] has changed perspectives and furthered our understanding about what matters and what is important," he said.
What matters especially is Conor's full recovery, according to Lies.
"Presently Conor is being treated for a virus and the hope would be that — if the match goes forward — he could begin a five-day series of chemotherapy and radiation to prepare himself for the transplant," he said.
All News Stories for Tuesday, March 28, 2000
