Florida boy battling cancer in need of blood stem cell donor – ABC Action News

TAMPA, Fla. The parents of a Florida boy battling cancer are asking for the publics help in finding a life-saving blood stem cell donor.

Jakobe "Kobe" Washington, 8, was diagnosed with leukemia in August. Hes receiving treatment at All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg.

"Its tough to see your kid fighting a fight, you cant do nothing but be there to support him, no control in it at all," said his father Jordan Washington.

With chemotherapy not working, Kobes family says he is now in desperate need of a blood stem cell transplant.

"For Jakobe, his life depends on it," said his mother Imeria Price.

According to Be The Match, the national marrow donor program, Black patients are the least likely to find a matching donor when battling blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

"Finding a matching donor is difficult, and of the 22 million potential donors on the Be The Match Registry, there are no ideal matches for Kobe," said Erica Sevilla. "This is partially because ancestry matters in finding a match and African Americans only make up 4% of the registry. The end result: Less than 1 in 4 Black patients find a match compared to 3 in 4 White patients."

Be The Match is hosting a COVID-safe, drive-thru cheek swabbing event this Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WestShore Plaza in Tampa.

Individuals who cannot make the swabbing event can join the registry by texting KOBE to 61474 and a cheek swab kit will be mailed to their home.

"I have a bright future planned ahead of me, Kobe said Thursday from a hospital bed in St. Pete. I just need your help to get through this and Im going to keep fighting."

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Florida boy battling cancer in need of blood stem cell donor - ABC Action News