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Donors sought for Newton employee facing leukemia
NEWTON, Kan. (KSNW) — The City of Newton is rallying support for longtime city engineer Mike Headings, who was recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia.
Headings has worked for the city for more than 26 years. His best chance for recovery is a stem cell transplant, and the city is now working with the nonprofit NMDP to find a donor match.
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A donor drive was held Thursday, and another is planned for Saturday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Newton Rec Center, 415 N. Poplar.
Donating is easier than many people think.
'It's very similar to donating plasma or platelets and a noninvasive, non-surgical donation process for the vast majority of donors,' said Erin McDaniel, communications director for the City of Newton. 'About 10% of donors would be asked to do a stem cell bone marrow transplant.'
Registration takes only a few minutes and includes a painless cheek swab. Healthy adults between 18 and 40 are eligible.
Anyone who cannot attend in person can request a free at-home test kit by texting 'Hope4Mike' to 61474 or visiting
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