Dear friends, our dear Ana was born on today’s date in 1977.
Unfortunately, our Ana left us too early, but her promise is being fulfilled by the Ana Rukavina Foundation which continues to work to expand the Registry of voluntary hematopoietic stem cell donors and the Cord Blood Bank “Ana Rukavina”, as well as raise awareness that by donating people have the opportunity to give the hope of life to those who are suffering.
Ana and her vision continue to motivate us to help those who are suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and other hematological diseases through the work of the Ana Rukavina Foundation.
In 2006, the Registry of voluntary hematopoietic stem cell donors numbered a mere 150 donors. Owing to the Foundation’s actions, today that number has reached 47,606 registered potential donors, of which 44,259 samples have undergone tissue typing.
Thanks to the expansion of the Registry, until now, a total of 46 people have been given the hope of life. We are especially happy and proud of this, and it is all owed to the desire and vision of our Ana, as well as the good people who have decided to give a piece of themselves in order to help those who need it the most!
Ana, wherever you are blowing out your birthday candles now, we are thinking of you.