{"id":6746,"date":"2026-07-09T04:02:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T04:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=6746"},"modified":"2026-07-09T04:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T04:02:22","slug":"duke-mba-student-with-leukemia-seeks-blood-stem-cell-donor-as-minority-patients-face-lower-match-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=6746","title":{"rendered":"Duke MBA student with Leukemia seeks blood stem cell donor as minority patients face lower match rates"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON<\/strong> – <\/span>Doctors told Chizoma Ekechukwu something no one wants to hear. She has leukemia.<\/p>

Read more ICE Houston shooting timeline: Surveillance video, family account help reconstruct final moments<\/a><\/p>

How blood stem cell donation helps Leukemia and blood Cancer patients<\/h2>

What they’re saying:<\/p>

<\/div>

“It was surreal,” her sister, Nneka Soyinka said. “She had just started her dream MBA program at Duke. A month or so later, she had a cough that wouldn’t go away.<\/p>

“She FaceTimed me and says they’re saying it’s cancer,” Nneka said.\u00a0<\/p>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n <\/div>

Chizoma’s brother, Obi, who’s a half match, donated his stem cells.<\/p>

Sadly, Chizoma went from being in remission to being in the hospital in desperate need of a blood stem cell donor.<\/p>

According to DKMS, the world’s largest blood stem cell donor center, 70% of patients must rely on donors outside their families.<\/p>

Read more Cyclosporiasis outbreak: 16 cases of cyclosporiasis confirmed in City of Houston<\/a><\/p>

Black patients, says DKMS, have only a 29% chance of finding a compatible donor. That’s why greater donor diversity is urgent.<\/p>

It starts with a swab in your mouth, and if you are a match, it only takes a few hours to save a person’s life.<\/p>

Read more Man, minor found shot in Alvin; no suspects in custody<\/a><\/p>

What you can do:<\/p>

For more information, click here.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Doctors told Chizoma Ekechukwu something no one wants to hear. 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