Iranian-Americans Seek Heros to Save a Life · Global Voices
Hooman Askary

Screen capture from the official website of Project Marrow
Iranian netizens are looking for a hero. Not for a revolution or a war, but to save a life. Nasim, a young woman from Northern California of Iranian descent is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Several Iranian celebrities have  stepped up to help spread the word to save her. They are using social media to find a hero to give a bone marrow donation.
A project was born to solve this kind of challenge in 2003: Project Marrow. According to its Facebook page, Project Marrow was founded by an Iranian-American, Behnoush Babzani, who herself was once diagnosed with a rare blood disorder in 2003. After being treated with marrow donated by her brother, the special experience gave her unique insight into the lives of patients whose health depends on marrow transplants from people with marrow types matching theirs – usually found in individuals of similar ethnic backgrounds.
The campaign initiated by Behnoush has now apparently come to save other patients suffering from diseases like marrow cancer by reaching out to fellow Iranian-Americans for help. 21-year-old Nasim is one of those patients. Her story has moved people to an extent that community members and celebrities alike have stepped up to try to help to save her. They have posted video messages on Youtube, donated marrow samples and tried to raise awareness through social media. This Facebook page is one example.
In their video message, famous Iranian-Americans, such as actor Maz Jobrani and athlete Ehsan Hadadi, have pleaded to their fellow Iranians for help repeating the motto “I am Nasim” over and over again in the clip.
The video closes with these lines:
If you're lucky enough to match to be able to help and save this girl's life… then they will contact you and it's just a very quick process… it doesn't… they don't rip you open… there's nothing… it's very easy!
We're not asking for money, we're asking you to consider joining the registry.
To be able to donate something from my body…
that would help somebody else would be the greatest gift
So let's come together!
Save Nasim,
Save Nasim
Save Nasim NOW!