A drive was held at West Orange High School Saturday to add more people to the Be the Match Registry to help Veronica Depauli and others like her.
[Ads /]
She lives with a rare condition called Autosomal Dominant Osteopetrosis Type 2 that causes abnormal density in her bones making them more prone to fractures and can lead to bone marrow failure.
The only known cure for her disease is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
After three years of searching, she has yet to find a match.
"I want to say thank you for trying to help," Veronica said. "Also thank you for helping any others."
[Ads /]
Organizers focused the drive on adding donors who share Veronica's Latino heritage.
Just 7% of the donors on the registry are Latino.
Organizers are asking anyone who was unable to attend, but is interested in seeing if they are a match for Veronica or someone else, to order a swab kit from the Be The Match website.
RELATED | Paul Newman's camp for ill children in CT partially destroyed by fire
Fire destroys part of Paul Newman's camp for ill children in CT
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New Jersey news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a News Tip