Praying for a Second Miracle This Holiday Season - The Miracle of Life

By Malia Zimmerman
Hawaii Reporter

December 29, 2006 11:38 PM

Sharnell Onaga Hopes She Can Find a Donor Before it is Too Late; Family and Friends Organize Bone Marrow Drive, Blood Donations, Fundraisers; They Hope New Treatment with Cord Blood Can Help Her Fight Leukemia if Bone Marrow Match Not Found Soon. Read Full Article

Permission to publish this article is pending

Leukemia can't stop debut of third Onaga daughter

By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Kapolei resident Sharnell Onaga, 38, who has an aggressive form of leukemia, gave birth to her third daughter at 9:44 p.m. Monday at the Queen's Medical Center.

Onaga's baby wasn't due until January but she was admitted to the hospital Sunday night to induce labor because of rapidly advancing leukemia, Friends For Sharnell Onaga reported. (Read Full Article)

Bone Marrow Donor Could Save Pregnant Woman's Life
By: Angela Keen
KHNL NBC 8

Oct 12, 2006 08:08 PM

(KHNL) - A desperate plea is going out to help save the life of an Ewa woman who's just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

This is a rare situation because she's also pregnant.

Friends and family will tell you, Sharnell Onaga captures the heart of everyone she touches.

People know Sharnell as a skilled facialist at the Ihilani Spa.

But many don't realize this pregnant mom, has a battle that's bigger than life. Shortly after finding out about her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

She desperately needs a bone marrow transplant, but no one in her family is a match. Ethnicity could help raise her chances of finding a donor. But she says no matter what, her baby comes first.

Being the same ethnicity isn't necessary but it can up the chances of finding a matching donor. If you'd like to see if you're a match the hawaii bone marrow donor registry will have a donor drive at kapiolani park on saturday at the hispanic heritage festival. (See KHNL's video on Sharnell)

Eager to give, she now waits to receive

Sharnell Onaga reluctantly shifts roles after a blood test reveals leukemia's presence

By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Sharnell Onaga waited a long time to donate her bone marrow to help a cancer patient, but when the chance came, she could not. She was on the wait list herself for a transplant.

"It was kind of funny because I've been on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry almost three years, and they called me last week to say they found a match for me to donate for someone," she said in an interview. (Read Full Article)

If you have any questions or would like to contact us, please email us by clicking on the link below.

Friends For Sharnell is a non-profit organization.

Leukemia can't stop debut of third Onaga daughter

By Helen Altonn haltonn@starbulletin.com

Eager to give, she now waits to receive

Sharnell Onaga reluctantly shifts roles after a blood test reveals leukemia's presence

By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com