When students at North Miami High School found out sophomore Amy Fields was in need of bone marrow, 64 students quickly stepped up to the plate, offering to have their blood tested as a potential match.

This was more than enough to get the American Red Cross to go to the school and do testing (they require a minimum of 20 before they’ll make the trip from Fort Wayne), but then it was discovered that donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60 to qualify. This cut the list down to 14.

Thus, the school is seeking people to sign up for testing, as well as individuals willing to donate money to help offset the $96 cost for each test.

Miss Fields, a rural Roann resident, is in need of marrow because she has aplastic anemia, which causes her blood count to be dangerously low. For the last several years, she’s been on medication to keep the count up, but the efficacy of the medication dwindles with time.

The only other option, according to school nurse Donna Hisey, is for Miss Fields to undergo a bone marrow transplant.

“She may soon be running out of options of drugs to help her,” Ms. Hisey said.

The drive at North Miami, however, could potentially benefit far more people than Miss Fields.

“She’s not trying just for herself,” Ms. Hisey said. “She wants the bank to be built up for others, too.”

Ms. Hisey did say that since finding out donors needed to be between the ages of 18 and 60, the list has built up to 23. But the more people who sign up for the

marrow drive, the greater the probability of Miss Fields finding a match.

“We do hope a donor will be found for her,” Ms. Hisey said.

Miss Fields will be a junior next fall, and is presently quite active at the school.

“She’s involved in sports and everything,” Ms. Hisey said. “She also has a voice that’s out of this world.”

Because it costs $96 for the drawn blood to be run through testing, North Miami is also hoping to find a means to offset this cost so individuals don’t have to carry the financial burden themselves.

The bone marrow drive is set for June 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Anyone interested in being tested as a potential match should contact Ms. Hisey at the school, 765-985-2931.

Those willing to sponsor someone’s test should also call.

Born at Wabash County Hospital, Miss Fields lives on the Wabash/Miami County line near the Stockdale Mill. She attends both Grand Street Baptist Church and Christ United Methodist Church in Wabash.