Call to Action!
One of our sisters needs our help!

Dear Pi Beta Phi Sisters,

Peggy Glass Matlock was in the Oklahoma Beta Pi Phi house from 1971 through 1974. Her daughter, Rebecca, was in the house from 2001 to 2004 and her son, Marshall, was a Sigma Chi at OSU from 1998 to 2003. Just a few months ago, Marshall, at age 29, was diagnosed with AML or acute myeloid leukemia.

Marshall works for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City and is getting excellent care at the KU Medical Center there. He took a leave of absence from Cerner in hopes of getting treatment and returning to work in August. Unfortunately, his leukemia is operating on a different schedule. He needs a bone marrow transplant but no one in his family is a match and fewer than 2 in 10 of those needing such a transplant find a donor.


FIRST!! Click Be the Match dot com to learn about becoming a bone marrow donor. Today, it's a simple matter of going to participating blood banks (check the list on Be The Match dot com) and swabbing your mouth to enter the donor registry. In Oklahoma, if you have any Native American blood, you can be tested at the Oklahoma Blood Bank and they'll waive the $30 processing fee. Like many Oklahomans, Marshall has some Native American blood and there's a real shortage in the current registry of donors with a mix of European and Native American heritage. You may be surprised to learn that donating bone marrow today is as easy as giving blood. Please get informed and get registered!



SECOND!! In order to survive until a donor is found, Marshall must undergo three intensive rounds of chemotherapy. It's not going as well as hoped. He was expected to begin the second round several weeks ago but his blood counts are not rebounding to the levels required. It's now looking as if his return to work could be delayed by many months.


His parents, Peggy and Randy (also an OSU alumn) both grew up in Stillwater where their dads were on the OSU faculty. Today, they live in Moore where she is an elementary school principal and he is a pharmacist. They have been alternating weeks in Kansas City with Marshall when he is hospitalized or waiting at home for test results. He must stay in a germ free environment as his immunity system is so compromised at present.


And now he's received his final pay check and must begin paying his own medical insurance premiums in order to maintain coverage. Of course, there are mortgage payments, utilities and groceries to say nothing of the medical bills looming. The financial uncertainty is becoming as scary as his medical prognosis.

We've established a "Matlock Angel Fund" at:
Red Crown Federal Credit Union
5001 E. 91st Street,
Tulsa, OK 74137.

Our dream is to raise more than $3000 in the next ninety days to provide Peggy, Randy and Marshall funds for medical premiums, travel expenses, mortgage payments or whatever will allow them the peace of mind to concentrate on Marshall's recovery.

No gift is too small, but we're hoping for at least $25 from each of you. We're sending this message to Pi Phi's who were in the house from 1971 to 1974 and from 1998 to 2004. Please forward the letter to other angels who can support a sister in need. We're also hoping to organize a Bone Marrow Registry drive at OSU in the fall.

Marshall is an outstanding, Christian young man who's facing a very difficult path with a great outlook. You can read more about his plight on his Caring Bridge

We need Angels to become warriors for Marshall Matlock. Please register as a bone marrow donor and send a check today. And most important, include Peggy, Randy and Marshall in your prayers.

Ring Ching!

Lea Anne Brown Watkins and JoNelle Langdon Parks

Oklahoma Beta 1971.

Call Lea Anne at 405-747-0925 or e-mail at natalea@pldi.net with any questions.