Matches found for Ali

The Gerlaches have recently received some good news.

Ali Gerlach, who was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis in May, was notified during a doctor's appointment on Sept. 12 that two people have been found who match her 10 for 10 in the bone marrow registry.

"It's just a relief to know when the time comes, that we've got that option available to us now," she said. "It's one less obstacle or hurdle we'll have to overcome or worry about."

The matches are kept anonymous for a year. Ali's own daughter, Chloe, matches her in six of 10 antigens, meaning she is a backup donor in case her mom's condition deteriorates to the crisis point and something happens with the other matches.

"It think in today's age, with HIPAA and everything, you just kinda expect that things will be anonymous," Gerlach said. "I'm alright with that. When the time comes and I have to have (a procedure), I would like to, at some point, be able to communicate with the person, tell them thank you and how appreciative I am for their kindness and their donation."

HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed by Congress in 1996 and protects the privacy and security of health information.

Most healthcare providers and companies that help administer health plans must follow the law, but employers, school districts, state agencies, life insurers and workers' compensation carriers are not required.

News of the matches came two weeks after the Gerlaches - Ali, her husband, Andy, and children Chloe and Drew - held a bone marrow drive on Aug. 28 at the Steeleville American Legion that resulted in 221 new entries to the registry drive.

"The cure is a bone marrow transplant," Andy Gerlach said. "It sounds bad, but they're going to wait until she's sicker to do a bone marrow transplant because there's a big risk in bone marrow transplants."

People aged 18 to 44 were encouraged to participate as research has shown that patients react better to younger stem cells. Once you are on the registry, you stay there until age 61 before dropping out.

"It's just wonderful," Ali Gerlach said of the response to the drive. "I had a lot of people, even (Saturday) I had somebody say 'You know, I would have come gotten on the register, but I'm too old for it.'

"So a lot of people, because of age or other issues, couldn't get on it and they make sure and tell me that."

Those who joined the registry at the Steeleville drive were added to the more than 14,000 who make up the registry.

"It's still amazing how many people and I've had others that said 'Oh, I still need to order my kit on the internet,'" Ali said. "It's nice that people still think about it."

Ali Gerlach was asked what happens next.

"I go back to the doctor every so often and it's a wait and see approach that's commonly taken with this disease," she said.

Andy Gerlach was asked his thoughts on news of the matches.

"It's exciting for sure," he said. "I'm glad we found somebody. It takes a lot of relief off your shoulders that there's two matches out there."