ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ORANGE, CALIF.
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: LOS ANGELES TIMES
Michelle Carew, the daughter of Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew who waged a seven-month battle with leukemia that sparked a surge in the pool of potential bone marrow donors, died Wednesday morning. She was 18.
Michelle Carew died at Children's Hospital of Orange County, with her father, mother Marilynn and a cluster of relatives, friends and nurses at her bedside. Michelle's condition had been diagnosed as acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, one of the most aggressive and deadly strains of the disease, in the fall of 1995.
In an emotional news conference at the hospital, Rod Carew brushed away tears as he recounted his family's parting moments with Michelle, who had become a national symbol for people afflicted with the blood disease.
``We told her we loved her, we're all here, and to have a safe journey,'' said Carew, a coach for the California Angels.
Acknowledging the outpouring of support, Carew said his daughter's death was not in vain.
``Although we have lost Michelle, we can take solace in the fact that, because of [her], many lives have already been saved by the increase in marrow transplants performed in the weeks subsequent to our appeal.''
Carew had pleaded for people across the United States to sign up as potential donors after he saw how few blacks and other minorities were registered in the National Marrow Donor Program.
Within a few weeks after he began a public awareness campaign Nov.6, more than 70,000 calls to the marrow program were generated. The donor registry's rolls recently increased to 2 million - up from 1.5 million last year - thanks in large part to the Carews' efforts to raise awareness.
National registry officials estimate thousands of ethnic minorities have stepped forward to become donors since the Carews' pleas.
``That was absolutely awesome,'' said Dr. Craig Howe, chief executive officer of the Minneapolis-based donor program, of the family's action. ``It's the major initiative we have at the present time - to increase the racial diversity of the registry.''
Dr. Richard Stiehm, chief of pediatric immunology at UCLA Children's Hospital, said Wednesday: ```Hopefully, out of the tragedy of Michelle's dying, people will realize the importance of going out and getting [their marrow] typed.''
But because of Michelle's rare genetic composition - her father is black with West Indian and Panamanian heritage and her mother is white of Russian-Jewish roots - it was difficult to find a suitable donor.
``Being a mixed child, the percentages weren't in her favor,'' Rod Carew said at the news conference. ``She just ran out of time, just lost the battle.''
In a bitter irony, Carew's other two daughters, Charryse, 22, and Stephanie, 20, were a perfect match for each other, but not Michelle.
Throughout the day, condolences poured in to the family from the baseball world.
``This is a tragedy for all of us within the organization. Today, a member of the Angels' family passed away,'' said Richard M. Brown, the major-league club's president.
``Words are hard to come by,'' Angels owner Gene Autry said in a written statement. ``Michelle was a fighter throughout her entire illness. She displayed an immense amount of courage.''
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. AP Rod Carew comforts his wife, Marilynn, during oneby CNBof the medical procedures their daughter Michelle endured. color
2. headshot of Michelle Carew