Melissa Marshall Bledsoe is a 48 year old single mom, graduated from East Forsyth (Class of 85), works for Crown Automotive, loves riding her motorcycle, music and movies. After experiencing flu like symptoms and collapsing at her apartment in Greensboro, she was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) in November 2015. She was immediately transferred to WFBMC (Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center / Comprehensive Cancer Center). She has undergone and continues to take Chemotherapy. She has now been told she needs a bone marrow transplant. We are having a Marrow Registry and Benefit that was going to have a blood mobile, due to a dire need for Blood and Platelets (both that Melissa and others have to frequently have) the Red Cross has asked that we have a virtual drive now instead of a blood mobile at our Bone Marrow Registry Drive and Benefit. She has to have platelet transfusions approximately three times a week now. They have located a marrow match and she will be going to UNC Chapel Hill to have the transplant done sometime around end of March or first of April. Due to the risk of transplant rejection she will be there (within 15 minutes from the hospital in an apartment with a 24 hour care-giver) for a approximately 3 (three months). We are still conducting the marrow drive. To raise awareness, or in case there is a need for a back up match or to help other people of all ages, battle this disease. Marrow donors have to be within the ages of 18 – 44. However, anyone over the age of 18 can donate platelets or blood (if they meet the medical qualifications). Platelets and blood are just as important for many patients as marrow is to Melissa. Please use this website to pledge and register to give platelets or blood. If you can’t help her you may be a match and save the life for some other person suffering from this same illness. Please sign up, go give platelets, or give blood, either way you are giving life!