My name is Ara. I’m 36 years old, and I grew up loving electronics and video games. It was always one of my passions from the moment I could clumsily control the joystick on my dad’s Atari 2600. He showed me how to play Space Invaders, and I was passionate about play ever since. So much so, that I turned it into a career. At 19 while attending college, I also got a job as a contract QA Tester with Sony to help with their brand new game system, the Sony PlayStation. And I loved it. My passion for play had become my path in life, and so I followed it with vigor. And now, I help to create some of the most renowned video games and play experiences that people across the globe have come to love just as much as I did that first time I got to play a game with my dad.
On my 36th birthday in 2015, I was diagnosed with Double Hit Non-Hodgkins Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. It was definitely not how I was hoping to celebrate the day. Since then, my life has been a battle, going through intensive chemotherapy sessions and a number of invasive procedures. I fight the good fight, and have hope for the future, however. I’ve reached a point where I need the help of a kind stranger. The help to save my life, and bring some joy and relief to my friends and family. My body has slowed its response to the chemotherapy, therefore my cancer persists. What’s worse, my only brother was not a match for me. I am in need of a bone marrow donor. Life is a wonderful gift, it’s filled with many ups and downs each with its own little story. Part of your story could be that you do something today to give someone like me another tomorrow, and it’s as simple as a swab of cotton against your cheek. Register to be a bone marrow donor today, those like me will be forever grateful.
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