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BECOME MANDI'S HERO

UPDATE

Mandi Schwartz Update: Transplant Completed; Waiting for Engraftment Begins
Positive Step in Battle against Cancer

The long wait is over for Mandi Schwartz, who received the stem cell transplant she needs to beat cancer Wednesday (9/22)  afternoon. The procedure, which lasted 32 minutes, took place at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance’s inpatient transplant unit at the University of Washington Medical Center. With her immune system wiped out by chemotherapy and radiation, Mandi must remain in the hospital and be closely monitored. The next major milestone for her is “engraftment” -- the transplanted stem cells beginning to grow in her bone marrow and manufacture new blood cells and immune cells. This signifies the birth of Mandi’s new immune system, and should happen within a month.

Prior to the transplant, Mandi took the time to write to her Yale women’s ice hockey teammates, who have been among her most active supporters throughout her ordeal.

“I'm praying every day for everything to work out, and I know you all are thinking about me and praying for me - thank you very much - your support means the world to me. I think about the team, your workouts, the busy school day, and the beautiful feeling of stepping out onto that ice every day.”

While Mandi continues to battle, the hockey community world-wide continues to rally around her cause. This weekend marks the first annual Mandi Schwartz Challenge at the Co-operators Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. This tournament will see Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s Provincial Under-18 teams competing along with the Universities of Alberta, Regina and Saskatchewan. Mandi once played for Team Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association, along with the University of Regina, will be holding a silent auction throughout the course of the weekend with all funds raised from the auction going to Mandi and her family. There will be no charge for the games; however there will be a place to make donations.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Send Mandi a card or letter showing your support:

Mandi Schwartz
Box 308
Wilcox, SK S0G 5E0
Canada   

2. Send donations (checks made out to "Yale University", with Mandi Schwartz in the memo line) to:

Yale Athletics
ATTN: Wayne Dean
20 Tower Parkway
New Haven, CT 06520

 

3. Become an umbilical cord blood donor:

  • Click here to visit the U.S. National Marrow Donor Program's page with information about umbilical cord blood donation.

4. Join the bone marrow donor registry:

  • Click here to visit the U.S. National Marrow Donor Program's "Be The Match" website to learn how you can request a bone marrow donor testing kit or find a bone marrow donor testing drive near you.

  • Click here to visit the DKMS Americas bone marrow donor page.

  • Click here to visit the Canadian Blood Services page.

  • Click here for the U.S. National Marrow Donor Program’s list of International donor centers if you are not in the U.S. or Canada.

 

 Thank you for your support and generosity!

 

 

Become Mandi's Hero - ESPN video