Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2012 — KS GRADUATE LOSES CANCER FIGHT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KS GRADUATE LOSES CANCER FIGHT

\atalie Oana, a 1977 Kamehameha Schools graduate who was featured in Ka Wai Ola during her search for a bonemarrow donor while battling leukemia, has died several months after receiving a transplant in Seattle. She was 52. Even though they lost their mother, Oana's two children, JeanninMelissa and Brigitte, are grateful to the donor who gave their family a "ray of hope" that the transplant would provide a cure, said JeanninMelissa, a former intern at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Oana, a single mom and professional volleyball player, was an all-star at Kamehameha and earned several state championships. In KWO' s May 20 1 1 issue, she described her battle with leukemia as "a big volleyball match of life." The transplant was successful, but complications arose. After returning home Jan. 30 after a Sept. 21 transplant in Seattle, Oana

"had two really good weeks and an awesome weekend with friends" before she passed on March 6. Services followed March 16 at Kawaiaha'o Church. During her battle, Oana's fighting spirit remained strong as her family, friends and classmates rallied to her side and organized bonemarrow registration drives to encourage Hawaiians to heeome donors. In just a twomonth period, they registered almost 500 people. The

loeal bone-marrow registry noted a need for Hawaiians and other ethnic minorities to register because odds for a match are best within the same ethnicity. Jeannin-Melissa said had the transplant succeeded, her mom would have gained 10 to 14 years of her life. She and her sister plan to continue promoting the donor program to help others in need. They also plan to organize both volleyball tournaments to benefit patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and educational outreach on bonemarrow donations for patients and caregivers. "My sister and I are both on the registry, and if we ever have the possibility of donating our marrow to someone, we'd donate in a heartbeat," said Jeannin-Melissa, adding that her mother didn't raise quitters. "Every time you accomplish something it reflects on how she was as a mother and how she raised us. And doing all these projects in her honor helps us to realize that it doesn't end here. Her passing is not just the ending; it's just the beginning of a lot more to eome." — LisaAsato ■

Brigifte, left, and Jeannin-Melissa Russo hold a picture of their mom, Natalie Oana. - Photo: UsaAsato