The first of four bone marrow drives was held on Monday for Lance Jones, a member of the Confederated Umatilla Tribes who has acute myelogenous leukemia.

Jones, a father of three, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003. Since then he has been on a national waiting list for a bone marrow donor. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Since Jones is Native American, Native men are being sought for the marrow drive. The Umatilla Tribes, the Warm Springs Springs Tribes, the Quinault Nation and the Yakama Nation are hosting the drives this week [Schedule].

Jones turns 39 on Wednesday. He served in the U.S. Army's 182nd Airborne Division. His wife is Mary Lee Jones, a member of the Yakama Nation.

Get the Story:
Their flicker of hope burns strong (Confederated Umatilla Journal March 2006)
Around the Valley: Tribal bone marrow drive planned this weekend [third item] (The Yakima Herald-Republic 3/7)
Woman desperately in search of bone marrow donor for husband (The East Oregonian 3/5)

Relevant Links:
National Marrow Donor Program - http://www.marrow.org

Related Stories:
Native teen faces long wait for bone marrow donor (04/04)
Bone marrow sought for Navajo teen with leukemia (03/21)
Navajo Nation helping boy find bone marrow donors (07/17)
Bone marrow donors sought for Navajo boy (07/08)
Bone marrow still needed for Navajo boy (05/28)
Native bone marrow donors needed for Navajo child (05/07)