Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," where we explore the groundbreaking world of blood stem cell therapy. In today's episode, brought to you by NMDP, we are joined by Dr. Edward Ziga, an esteemed pediatric specialist in blood marrow transplant and blood stem cell therapy. Dr. Ziga provides crucial insights into the unique challenges faced by the black, latino, and black caribbean communities in need of stem cell transplants, particularly in relation to sickle cell disease and other disorders. As we unravel the complexities of donor-recipient matching, we gain a deeper understanding of the importan ..read more

Welcome to another engaging episode of Black Blood Heals. Today, our host, Tamara Weston, is joined by Karla Dawson, the program manager on the health equity team at NMDP. They delve into the crucial topic of access to transplants and the services NMDP offers for searching patients and patients who have received transplants.  Karla provides insight into how NMDP is working to ensure equitable access to transplants and resources for all patients, particularly focusing on the needs of the sickle cell community. The discussion touches on the challenges faced in achieving health equity, the i ..read more

Welcome to another episode of Black Blood Heals. In today's show, we delve into the important work of engaging young people in joining the blood stem cell donor registry.  Our host, Tamara Weston, sits down with Armani Oliver, a sophomore from Morehouse College and an intern at NMDP, to discuss his efforts to inspire his fellow classmates to join the registry.  They explore the challenges, successes, and goals of the HBCU program, aiming to increase representation and save more African American lives. Join us as we discover the vital role of young leaders like Armani in the mission t ..read more

Welcome to Black Blood Heals, a groundbreaking podcast exploring the world of blood stem cell therapy. In today's episode, sponsored by NMDP, we shine a spotlight on the pressing need for African American men to join the donor registry. Joining us is the esteemed Dr. Jason Payne, an Assistant Professor/Pediatric Hematologist at Morehouse Medical School, whose passion for beating sickle cell disease and dedication to increasing diversity in the donor registry is truly inspiring. Dr. Payne shares his insights on the need for more representation in the medical field, emphasizing the importance of ..read more

Welcome back to "Black Blood Heals." with host Tamara Weston.  In today's episode, we dive into the critical world of stem cell donation and transplantation. Our esteemed guest, Dr. Brandon Blue, a hematologist-oncologist, brings his invaluable insights to the table as we unpack the crucial role of HLA markers in finding stem cell donor matches, the urgent need for increased African American representation in donor registries, and why this ethnic disparity exists. We'll explore the barriers to participation, such as a lack of awareness and education within the African American community ..read more

Welcome back to Black Blood Heals. This week your host Tamara Weston explores the inspiring story of Donna and Tiana. Tiana, a selfless stem cell donor, shares her journey of joining the registry and becoming the life-saving match for Donna, who faced the challenges of myelofibrosis. Initially, Donna struggled with the complexities of her diagnosis, but her sister's proactive decision to seek the best Cancer Hospital set the stage for a life-changing event. Donna couldn't believe it when she heard that not just one, but two donors had been found. It was her second chance at life. Tiana's persp ..read more

In today’s episode you’ll be joining Tamara Weston as she discusses the mental preparation required to become a member of the stem cell registry and the potential consequences of choosing not to go forward with a stem cell transplant when you are called to donate. Joining Tamara this week is Caitlyn Squire, a Donor Services Social Worker at Be The Match.  Caitlyn’s role was created in 2019 to help and support the donors, whom we would not be here without. We know that there is this crazy thing called life that can change our best intentions. If you join the registry when you’re 18, but yo ..read more

Imagine being the mother of three children with a life threatening disease. A disease that doesn’t care about age, time or place. How do you bottle the strength, the faith and the will to beat a disease that doesn’t fight fair? Today Tamara Weston is joined by Millapar Dahn, Founder and CEO of MTS Sickle Cell Foundation Inc and the mother of three daughters suffering from sickle cell disease. Get an insight into the work that Millapar is doing for the sickle cell community and what her day to day life looks like as the mother of three daughters suffering from sickle cell disease. Over the last ..read more

Welcome back to Black Blood Heals. This week your host Tamara Weston is joined by Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) survivor and Be The Match advocate, Jermaine Reid. It’s been 13 years since Jermaine was diagnosed with AML and treated with a bone marrow transplant.  In 2010, he had a feeling that he needed to go to the doctor, and it was this decision that saved his life. Throughout this episode you’ll meet the nurses, doctors and patients who inspired him, who helped him heal, and who made him laugh along the way. Now, being connected with Be The Match has  given him a platform to share ..read more

Welcome back to Black Blood Heals with your host, Tamara Weston. This week Tamara is joined by Jocelyn Thompson, an advocacy specialist with Be The Match. In this episode you’ll get a chance to learn more about the government relationships that Be The Match has formed with local and federal lawmakers, and why those relationships are so important for protecting donor’s rights and furthering the research needed to save lives.  The story of Henrietta Lacks has been shared time and time again in regards to medical research, her cancer cells, which were taken without her consent have raised im ..read more