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Most 15-year-olds are full of energy and hard to keep in the house, but Matt Sasaki has ALL leukemia / lymphoma, so he hasn't been outside much during the past four months. With low blood counts, he's just too vulnerable to anything in the air.

At the drive Matt sat with cousin Jennifer, who is trying to contact Oprah Winfrey for help.

Last Saturday, 25 people tried to change Matt's life by donating their blood for bone marrow testing at the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church. The Sasaki family is very grateful, said Matt's aunt, Tracy Cummings.

On the morning of the drive, Cummings said, Matt was happy—his high blood counts meant he could go outside for a few hours and meet the people working so hard for him at the blood drive.

Donors and volunteers were happy to meet the person they were trying to help, and Matt was glad to answer donors' questions.

Matt and BloodSource representative Shawn Ramos spoke to the people, thanked them for their kindness and explained how their donations could save Matt's life or the life of someone else.

Shawn Ramos of BloodSource joined Matt to thank donors, answer questions and calm the nervous

Matt enjoyed the Asian cultural bazaar at the Japanese United Methodist Church on Saturday, said Cummings. And the enthusiasm of so many people tying to help filled him with energy that lasted even after he got home.

If you were not able to participate on Saturday, Matt and his family want you to know it isn't too late, just as it isn't too late for Matt.

If Matt finds the right "match," everything will burn brighter in his life.

Until that match is found, Matt's Mondays mean handing three vials of blood to his father, Randy, who takes them to UC Davis Medical Center for testing, explained Cummings.

Because chemotherapy lowers Matt's immunity, he can't be a regular high school freshman. Someone else's cold could be fatal. To be safe, Matt studies at home all week. On Thursday a teacher from Sheldon High School visits.

They review the work he's done together and discuss his work for the next week so he can keep up with his peers.

Bone Marrow transplant matches for any race are difficult to find, and since Matt is Caucasian-Japanese, the problem is greater. "There is a lack of registered mixed race or minority bone marrow donors," Matt says in a written statement, "so I ask for your help."

Matt enjoys being surrounded by female volunteers at the drive: Marilyn Yankee (left), his Aunt, Tracy Cummings, and Michelle Lew.

Matt was first diagnosed with leukemia at age 13. After months of treatment, he was declared to be in remission. His family sighed full of relief and Matt went back to school, but his symptoms returned this spring. Matt's Web site says he complains some, but not too much.

The young man's written statement ends with this dignified appeal:

If you or someone you know is of mixed race or a minority between the ages of 18 and 60, and in good general health .... at your convenience, (consider making) an appointment to give blood for bone marrow testing at any BloodSource location. BloodSource

Those who respond to Matt's appeal and donate will have their samples tested for a bone marrow match. A BloodSource employee will contact the person who is that match and welcome them to Matt's family.

leu - ke - mi - a (noun): a type of cancer in which white blood cells displace normal blood, leading to infection, shortage of red blood cells (anemia), bleeding and other disorders which can be fatal. Doctors don't know what causes childhood leukemia. But in 2005 they know how to treat it. Fortunately, about 80 percent of children with ALL lukemia are cured.

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