UNION-TRIBUNE
June 24, 2004
An urgent plea is going out for bone marrow donors in hopes of
finding a match for Amy Milner of Encinitas, the 45-year-old daughter
of actor Martin Milner.
A single mom with an 11-year-old son, Amy operates Cini Design, a
store in Solana Beach's Cedros design district. She was diagnosed
with acute leukemia about 1½ years ago and is in desperate need
of a
bone marrow transplant. But the search for a match among family
members and on the national donor registry has been fruitless. With
Amy now hospitalized in very serious condition, family and friends
are scheduling two local marrow donor and blood drives – at the
First
United Methodist Church in Mission Valley on July 19 and at St.
Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad on July 26 (both from 2
p.m. to 7 p.m.).
Milner, a North County resident, starred in the popular TV
series "Route 66" in the 1960s and "Adam 12" in
the late '60s and
early '70s. An avid fisherman, he now co-hosts a weekend radio
show, "Let's Talk Hook-Up."
Hollywood actor Kent McCord, Milner's sidekick as a cop on Adam 12,
has agreed to spearhead a drive in L.A. through the Screen Actors
Guild. Milner says finding a match for his daughter is his top
priority. "But even if we don't find a match for Amy at these
particular drives, the people who join the bone marrow registry could
potentially save someone else's life – and that's important."
Bone marrow testing can be done from two small vials of blood. If
matching characteristics are found, the prospective donor is asked
back for further tests, says Mary Walter-Brown of the S.D. Blood Bank
(www.sandiegobloodbank.org).
San Diego Blood Bank To Host Two Blood And Bone Marrow Drives On Behalf
Of Encinitas Mother In Desperate Need Of Matching Donor
Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2004
The San Diego Blood Bank
will host two blood and bone marrow drives on behalf of 46-year-old
Amy Milner, the daughter of actor Martin Milner
of "Adam 12" and "Route 66" fame. Amy is battling
acute leukemia and doctors say her only chance for a cure is a bone
marrow transplant. She is currently undergoing intense chemotherapy
and requires blood transfusions as part of her treatment.
Two blood and bone marrow testing drives have been scheduled on Amy's
behalf. The first will take place at the First United Methodist Church,
2111 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley, on Monday, July 19, from
2 - 7pm. A second drive will be held the following Monday, July 26,
at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad, 6628 Santa Isabel
Street, from 2 - 7pm.
"Finding a matching bone marrow donor for our daughter is my
top priority," said Milner. "But, even if we don't find a
match for Amy at these particular drives, the people who join the bone
marrow registry could potentially save someone else's life…and
that's important."
Blood donations are being accepted on Amy's behalf at any San Diego
Blood Bank donor center (addresses listed below). Please specify patient
code AM05 before donating.
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60, who is in good health, may be
eligible to join the National Marrow Donor Program registry as a volunteer
donor. The blood test to join the registry involves a very small blood
sample and just a few minutes.
For more information about the Milner family, please call Linda Gentile
at 760-533-0730. To schedule an appointment to donate blood or for
more details on joining the National Marrow Donor Program registry,
please call 1-800-4MY-SDBB or send us a message.
SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK
440 Upas St.
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-6393
Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday
EAST COUNTY DONOR CENTER
680 Fletcher Parkway
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 441-1804
Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday
NORTH COUNTY DONOR CENTER
1340 West Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92029
(760) 489-0621
Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday
NORTH COASTAL DONOR CENTER
161 Thunder Drive
Vista, CA 92083
(760) 945-1906
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday
SOUTH BAY DONOR CENTER
Founded by SDG&E
1717 Sweetwater Rd., Suite G
National City, CA 91950
(619) 336-4090
Tuesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
