Members Anderton Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 (about Michael Brecker) Michael Brecker is 56 and an internationally renowned jazz musician. As a result of his harmonic innovations, Michael is among the most studied contemporary instrumentalists in music schools throughout the world today. Michael has played on hundreds of albums with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock to James Taylor, from Paul Simon to Frank Zappa to Quincy Jones, Chet Baker and Bruce Springsteen---and on and on. As aleader and co-leader of The Brecker Brothers (with Randy Brecker) and Directions in Music (with Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove), Michael has received 11 Grammy Awards ,more than any saxophonist, ever. For further information, go to http://www.michaelbrecker.com (about the drive to help him) FROM: Susan Brecker Dear Family and Friends, My husband, Michael Brecker, has been diagnosed with MDS(myelodysplastic syndrome), and its critical that he undergoes a stem cell transplant. The initial search for a donor (including Michael's siblings and children) has not yet resulted in a suitable match. Michael's doctors have told us that we need to immediately explore ALL possible options. This involves getting as many people of a similar genetic background to be tested. There are some important points to understand concerning this process: 1. The screening involves a blood test only. It can be done veryquickly either at a marrow donation center or at a LOCAL LAB. The cost is anywhere from $40 to $75 and your insurance may cover it. (In NYC, you can call Frazier, at the NY Blood Bank, at 212-570-3441, and make an appointment for HLA typing. It costs $40.00.) Check with your local blood bank, or go to http://www.marrow.org to find the donor center nearest you. 2. Your blood typing information can be posted on the international registry, if you choose, where it would also be available to others in need of a transplant. BEING ON THE REGISTRY DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DONATE, it just means that you may be ASKED to do so. You can take your name off the registry at any time. 3. Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael, please understand that there have been tremendous advances in bone marrow transplants and the term itself can be misleading. Bone marrow donation is no more invasive than giving blood. Stem cells are simply harvested from your blood and then transplanted to Michael. 4. A match for Michael would be most likely to come from those of Eastern European Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are in this category please make a special effort to immediately get tested. Ultimately, you would be doing something not just for Michael, but for so many more who are in a similar situation as my husband. 5. You are now part of our internet-based drive for donor testing. If everyone who receives this can motivate a bunch of their friends to get tested, and those friends then forward this email to get their friends to get tested, we will have rapidly expanded the pool of potential donors. I urge all of you to get tested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Any local blood center/Red Cross center can assist in organizing adrive for Michael, although it would be desirable if you can get alarge group, e.g. a synagogue, to sponsor it. Should you have anyquestions about this, please don't hesitate to get in touch withMichael's management office at 212.302.9200 or info@michaelbrecker.com. Thank you so much for your love and support. We are so grateful. Susan xo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lee Flier Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 Originally posted by Anderton A match for Michael would be most likely to come from those of Eastern European Jewish descent. Hmm. That would be me. I'll see what I can do about getting tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted July 29, 2005 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 Good for you, Lee. Thanks for responding. FYI this message was passed along from Will Lee so thanks, Will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedster Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 Wow...That's considerably less than I thought. I was under the impression that the cost for the blood test was in the hundreds. That the test is so inexpensive is good news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shars Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 I hope I can help but I'm not of Jewish extraction but I'll try if I can. I've worked on behalf his brother and I feel compeled to help. Does anyone know if we can get tested in the UK and is there a information service we can call/write to? I will send this to as many people as I can aswell in the US and else where as an urgent appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Base Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 National Blood Service I think this is it for the UK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shars Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 Thanks Base, i'll get on to it right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MarkZ Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 I'm a member of "the tribe" and my parents came from the Czech-Hungary border so I qualify, too. I hope this outreach helps bring a speedy healing to a treasured musician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fantasticsound Posted July 29, 2005 Members Share Posted July 29, 2005 Russian-Polish, Jewish heritage. I'll see what I can do, but it will be next week before I have a chance to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gtrwiz Posted July 30, 2005 Members Share Posted July 30, 2005 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted July 30, 2005 Members Share Posted July 30, 2005 My best wishes for a solid recovery for Mr. Brecker! He's a fine talent and I hope he and others in his or similar positions get the assistance they need. There are often a number of things the rest of us can do to help. Sometimes a relatively small contribution of time and effort can help save someone's life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shars Posted July 30, 2005 Members Share Posted July 30, 2005 Craig,Is there anyway that I can get intouch with Will Lee as I have an idea that may help Micheal and his family and its a pretty exciting one to that may intrest him.My email address is Sharmin at funkmanagemetuk dot com Any help you can give me would be much appreciated. as the balls rolling already to see what we can do for Micheal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hush Posted August 4, 2005 Members Share Posted August 4, 2005 I had the test done back around 1996 for a nephew with lukemia. I lost the results but am having the blood center fax them to me! Here's hoping I'm a match! Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phaeton Posted August 4, 2005 Members Share Posted August 4, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Anderton A match for Michael would be most likely to come from those of Eastern European Jewish descent. Ireland and Germany and Blackfoot Indian, so not even close... Wish i could help..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shars Posted August 4, 2005 Members Share Posted August 4, 2005 Hey PhaetonIt doesnt matter what ethnicity you are, its all worth noteing that even if your not be a match for Michael, you may be someone else on the list.Its worth just getting the test done even for peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.