Marrow testing attracts more than 600: Polo teenager seeking match to cure leukemia

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POLO – Four times the anticipated number of potential donors turned out for a bone marrow registry drive for a Polo teenager.

More than 600 people on Saturday went to Polo United Methodist Church to be tested as possible donors for Cassidy Terry, 16, who was diagnosed in March with acute myeloid leukemia. Only about 100 to 150 were expected.

Since her diagnosis, she has undergone chemotherapy treatments at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and is awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

On Friday, the Polo Chamber of Commerce sent out an urgent e-mail asking for more volunteers to help with the event.

“People came from everywhere – Polo, Milledgeville, Oregon, Dixon – just everywhere,” said Drew Terry, Cassidy’s father. “It was wonderful. Hopefully, at least one of them will be a match for someone.”

Family members, including Cassidy’s three older siblings, were tested as possible donors, but none is a match.

The bone marrow registry drive was conducted by the Northern Illinois Blood Bank, whose staff took cheek swabs from prospective donors.

Cassidy just completed her sophomore year at Polo High School, where she is active in numerous activities, including cheerleading, basketball, and drama.