Little girl needs new bone marrow

Jazelle Marconi, died Thursday night in a Spokane hospital bed, ending her battle with the disease that sapped her strength. An obituary and notices of services is available here.

A registry drive for a bone marrow transplant will begin this week for a 6-year-old Coulee Dam girl, Jezelle Elizabeth Marconi.

Jezelle Elizabeth has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, which gives her a deficiency of red and white blood cells and platelets.

She is the daughter of Randi and Urisha “Ookie” Marconi and a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes.

Four registry drives will be held this week in an attempt to find a bone marrow donor for the girl:

• 7 p.m. tonight (Sept. 5) at Center Elementary in Grand Coulee,

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 6, at Nespelem Community Center;

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Inchelium Community Center; and

• Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Omak Community Center.

The disease leaves Elizabeth very fatigued and at risk for infections, officials stated.

If a donor is found, the bone marrow transplant will be done at the Children’s Hospital in Seattle.

To be a donor you need to be between the ages of 18-60, and be willing to donate to any patient in need.

Patients are most likely to match someone who shares their heritage — in this case, a Native American.

Appointments are being taken at each location and you can do so by calling Lori Joseph at 634-2943.

At the marrow drive this week, officials will be testing your DNA with a Q-Tip. The DNA is then checked to see if there is a match, which takes a few weeks. Younger donors give patients a better outcome so those who are younger, but over 18, are encouraged to have themselves checked.