California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers held a statewide bone marrow community drive Tuesday, hoping to help a fellow officer heal after a cancer diagnosis.
Santa Ana-based officer Keith Meter was participating in a similar drive for a young girl when he was identified as a potential donor.
The 18-year veteran of the CHP found out during the donation process that he was suffering from a form of cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome.
As he undergoes treatment in Duarte, officers across California are hoping to find a match for Meter.
“We want to help anybody, so we could be the match for anybody, whether it be someone’s child or friend that we want to help,” said Officer Hope Maxson. “Anybody can come out and be a match for anybody that needs it.”
The CHP has partnered with City of Hope, a cancer research hospital; Be the Match, the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world; Officers Give Hope, a public safety effort to host marrow drives; and BloodSource, a blood center in Northern and Central California.
Potential donors should be between the ages of 18 and 44 and must meet health eligibility guidelines. The donors must make a good faith commitment to donate to anyone in need if they are a match.
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If you participate in the drive, volunteers will give participants registry information and take a cheek swab to determine if the person is a match for Meter or others in need.
