Family and friends of Hicksville resident Meg Reynolds gathered at the East Lake Elementary School in Massapequa earlier this month in the hopes there would be a potential bone marrow match for the 39-year-old mother of two with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Despite previous attempts, those close to Reynolds, including her sister, three brothers and parents have proven to be negative matches.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a potentially life threatening form of cancer, starts in the lymphoid tissue and can spread to other organs. Although it typically affects people over the age of 40, Reynolds was diagnosed two years ago. She was 37 years old. "On Christmas Day 2000, a lymph node popped in her neck," said Reynolds' husband, Doug. "They thought it might have been a thyroid problem [but] then they found a growth across the top of her chest. It was horrendous."

Currently, Reynolds is undergoing treatment and taking several medications, but her best bet for survival is a bone marrow transplant. "We go from week to week, month to month in terms of dealing with it," said Reynolds. "It is very stressful, but we're trying to be positive. The last round of chemotherapy she underwent did absolutely nothing, but if we can get the bone marrow transplant, well, I hear they've been very successful."

At the Nov. 1 drive, 223 people had their bone marrow tested and signed up to be placed on the National Marrow Donor registry. At this time, a small blood sample was drawn to determine tissue type. Samples are then listed in an international computerized database that can be utilized throughout the world to determine if a donor's bone marrow is a potential match for Reynolds or someone else awaiting a stem cell transplant.

The closer the match of one's human leukocyte antigens (HLA) - markers on white blood cells - to that of the patient, the greater the chance a transplant will be successful. In the event that a potential match is found, additional blood tests will be taken to determine the best donor.

Currently, 85 percent of Caucasian patients identify a fully matched potential donor on the national registry while for African Americans and Asian/Pacific Islands, it is only 60 percent. This year there are expected to occur approximately 50,000 new cases, there will be nearly 25,000 deaths. Everyone who signs on with the donor network will remain on the registry until their 61st birthday.

In an effort to find a successful match, a second drive in Reynolds' honor will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 3 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the St. Rose of Lima School in Massapequa. Like the first, the drive will be sponsored by the Commack-based Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) of which Reynolds' mother-in-law, Lee, is treasurer of Local 865.

"Lee is a close friend and a committed, veteran activist who has spent her life fighting for the rights of others," said Nick LaMorte, president of CSEA Long Island. "We are very glad to do whatever we can, to support the family and help Meg beat this terrible disease."

For more information on the Dec. 1 bone marrow drive, contact Rachel Langert of CSEA Long Island at (631) 462-0030.