Christine Pechera, 34, an alumna of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and a graduate of the University of Southern California’s prestigious Film School, has less than a year to live, according to her doctors.

Pechera, described by friends as vivacious and full of life, was first diagnosed three years ago with a tumor size of a pineapple in her chest which turned out to be a rare, very aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of lymphoid tissue.

The doctors then gave her a month to live, and her father, Dr. Frank Pechera, 62, of East Setauket, flew out to California to bring her home to New York to die. But Pechera stayed in Los Angeles’ City of Hope Hospital, fought, and survived.

Her treatment included chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, an extremely risky process of bone marrow transplant where the patient’s own cells are used, instead of those of a donor.

Even as she was fighting cancer, she was still creating art. It takes most people two years to resume activity after a stem cell transplant, but she was back on her feet after only six months, directing a short film. The transplant was successful and her cancer had gone into remission.

She returned to an active, normal life — co-producing a documentary film, working with other cancer patients at City of Hope, volunteering at a nearby yoga studio, writing for her local paper and even falling in love again.

Her family said she was on top of the world until a blip on a routine scan turned into the worst news of her life all over again.

Three days before New Year’s Day, Pechera found out that her cancer was back.

And this time, neither chemotherapy nor a stem cell transplant was going to work. She needed a bone marrow transplant and, to do that, she needed a matching donor.

“Finding a perfect match for her bone marrow type is particularly difficult,” says Pechera’s boyfriend, Jacob Krueger.

“This is hard enough for the average person; there are over 20,000 types of bone marrow, so the average person has a 1 in 20,000 chance of finding a match,” Krueger said. “These numbers are even worse for Christine. Because she is Filipino, she needs to find a donor of the same ethnic background, and there are hardly any Filipinos on the U.S. National Registry.”

“Right now is our best chance of having the bone marrow transplant work,” Krueger added. “Each day’s delay decreases her chances of surviving.”

“I know it will take a miracle, but I am hopeful,” Pechera said. “I do believe my match is out there.”

“I believe in God and I am not afraid to die — but not now,” she said. “Not now. There is so much still I want to do. I need help.”

A family friend, Ramon Garlitos, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., wrote to the Filipino Reporter to publish Pechera and her family’s battle.

“Getting the word out would increase donor registration awareness which will benefit other Filipinos who are in the same boat and Christine’s chance of finding a match,” Garlitos said.

Of the 6.6 million people listed on the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, less than one percent are Filipino, said Nicole Manalang of the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, a Los Angeles-based organization.

A potential donor should be all or part Filipino and between the ages of 18 and 61. The system is nationwide, so it doesn’t matter where they live. Signing up on the registry only requires a simple blood test. If it turns out they are a match, they will be contacted and can make the decision at that point about becoming a donor.

Donating bone marrow is considered minor, simple and safe, according to Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches. A donor will be anesthetized the whole time, so he or she will not feel anything.

When the procedure is over, he or she may have some soreness in the area for a day or two and you may feel a little tired. That’s it. The bone marrow one has donated is replenished within three to four weeks. All medical expenses for the donor will be covered by Pechera’s insurance.

The Pechera family has suffered as few have. Out of four children, three have been afflicted with lymphoma.

Pechera’s older sister, Jocelyn who fought cancer during college and is now in remission, has recently married and is living in Atlanta.

Her younger brother, Francis Rex, was diagnosed when he was only 12.

Francis Rex and Pechera had compatible HLA blood types, and Pechera donated her own bone marrow in an attempt to save Francis Rex’s life. Because of the transplant, Francis Rex lived for another few years but passed away two months after his 16th birthday.

At that time, Pechera was 18, and a film student at Syracuse (she later transferred to and graduated from USC’s Film School with a degree in film production/directing).

Now, it’s Pechera who needs a donor, and Francis Rex, the only compatible match in her family, is no longer around. 

Her doctors say that without treatment, Pechera has less than a year to live.  

So far, the organization has signed up more than 250 people. Nearly all of Pechera’s relatives have been tested; the family is awaiting the results.

To find out how to register or to set up a drive, people should contact the National Registry at 1-800-MARROW2. The Registry is speeding up processing for all Filipinos who register for Christine Pechera.

You can also visit www.christinepechera.com  or www.christine.site.ph