Airmen step up to take swab, help save lives Published Aug. 24, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Celena Wilson 379th Air Expeditionary Wing SOUTHWEST ASIA -- You saw his face everywhere. The base exchange, dining facilities, the laundry exchange, work centers and even in the bathroom. The smiles of Cavion Holloway adorned hundreds of posters across the base advertising the bone marrow registration drive being held in his memory. The base-wide advertising campaign drew in 685 new registrants to the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program during the drive Aug. 4. Cavion, son of Billy and Staff Sgt. Danielle Holloway, passed away Sept. 28, 2005, after a 1.5-year battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Sgt. Holloway, with the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., organized the drive, the second one since her son's death. Her driving force -- to help find matches so no one has to experience what she did. "I just get chills every time," Sgt. Holloway said. "In fact, the last drive we held, one guy has already gotten a phone call as a potential match. And it just brings great joy to me that maybe I'm preventing another mother from feeling the pain I feel every day." It didn't take much to be a part of this cause. "All it took was a cotton swab and filling out a form," said Senior Airman Amanda Groven, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. "It was so easy; there were no needles, no blood, but there was a lot of information." With the help of 63 volunteers from Desert 5 and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, the right side of the Desert Eagle Lounge was bustling throughout the day and even past the scheduled closing time. "The event ran smoothly, wait times were minimal and all because of the amazing volunteers," said Chief Master Sgt. Arvin Davis, 379th AEW command chief master sergeant. "Because of the volunteers' hard work and donor's strength of character, our Air Force family will always answer the call and share the ultimate gift of hope with others; not only with this bone marrow drive, but with the mission we perform day in and day out." Being in an environment with high heat and humidity didn't hamper anyone's spirits -- in registering or volunteering. "I volunteered to help because the bone marrow drive is the first important step for patients who need a bone marrow transplant," said Staff Sgt. Jonnie Parks, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, currently deployed from the 609th Air Communications Squadron at Shaw. "I registered myself in order to help at least one possible cancer patient. This event was extremely important in raising awareness about cancer. More importantly, it created a larger group of possible bone marrow matches to patients needing a transplant." After the last form was processed and the last envelope sealed, all of the samples and forms were packaged up and shipped back to the U.S. the same night. "I wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for everything they did today," Sgt. Holloway said. "It's great to see so many people willing to give up their time to help in this worthwhile event and come out and register. Even though my son isn't here today, maybe all of our efforts will help someone in need. Being involved in events like this and seeing the passion of others wanting to help makes each day without my little boy a little better for me." For anyone interested in organizing a drive, visit the C.W. Bill Young DoD Marrow Registry Web site at www.dodmarrow.com.