If you need a reason why African Americans should step up when it comes to donating bone marrow, look no further than the life of six-year-old Jasmina Anema.

The adorable little girl lost her battle against leukemia last night, but not before capturing the attention of the country when she asked to meet President Obama.

According to the New York Daily News, Jasmina was taken to NYU Langone Medical center, when she had trouble breathing. Doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia and she was moved to the ICU as her conditioned quickly worsened.

"Today, January 27th, at 10:55 p.m., Jasmina lost her fight against leukemia," Thea Anema, Jasmina's mother wrote.

Jasmina had a particularly deadly form of leukemia but a near perfect donor was found. Unfortunately, the cancer returned in September. The new bone marrow cells had also begun attacking Jasmina's own cells.

"Mama, no reason to cry," Jasmina told her mother when they learned that the cancer had returned. "Just think of something beautiful."

Jasmina had to cancel her original trip to the White House because she was ill, but she was determined to make the trip when she got well.

During her 10-minute meeting with President Obama, he gave the girl M&M's imprinted with his name and the presidential seal. Jasmina's mom said her daughter and President Obama were like "best buddies."

"It was just how he spoke to her, like a daddy. It was so sweet. He was really relating to her," Anema said.

President Obama asked about her favorite book and what she wanted for Christmas. Before she left, President Obama beckoned for the girl and gave her a big hug.

"It was a perfect ending for the visit," Anema said.

The best way to honor the memory of this special little girl would be for African Americans to go out and expand the donor pool. In 2009, more than 50,000 African Americans joined the national bone marrow registry and nearly 8,000 donated cord blood units. Let's double or triple that this year.

Last year, Jasmina was in need of bone marrow, but next year it could be you, your child, spouse or relative. Even if it's someone you don't know, helping to save lives is a worthy cause.

Bone marrow, which helps manufacture the components that make up blood, is used to treat 60 different diseases. Because the marrow needs to match the recipient's marrow, chances of a match increase when the donor is of the same ethnicity as the recipient.



Unfortunately, only about 7 percent, or 600,000 of the 8 million registered marrow donors, are African American, Catherine Claeys, spokesperson for the National Marrow Donor Program, told Aol. Black Voices in an interview. In addition, it's often more difficult to find a match for African Americans.

"African Americans have greater diversity in their tissue types which make it harder to find a donor," Claeys said. "The more people who join and the greater the tissue diversity, the more chance there is of finding a match. Everyone who joins has a chance to save a life."

For people ages 18 to 60 who are in relatively good health, the process of signing up could not be easier. Once you register at Bethematch.org, the organization will send out a mail-in kit that will allow you to swab your cheek for a tissue sample.

For more than 70 percent of donors, the process is as simple as donating plasma. For those who do donate actual marrow, the procedure is safely and comfortably conducted under anesthesia.

Claeys said a lack of education and awareness is to blame for the disparity in donors. African Americans also have a historically based mistrust of the medical system.

"African Americans and other minorities are underserved by the medical community, which leads to skepticism and mistrust. We are working hard to increase outreach," said Claeys.

It is a disparity that can only be resolved by our generosity and humanity.