Thanks to a national registry that matches people with types of blood cancer with potential donors, Dell Rapids native Grant Vietor is set to receive treatment next month for his battle with leukemia.

And next week in Dells, those interested in being a part of the registry will be invited to attend a drive to add to that list.

Feb. 3 will mark a “Be the Match Registry” drive, which will invite people from the community to join the registry that doctors use to find potential donors for many types of blood cancer treatments.

The procedure for the registration is a cheek swab, after which attendees will be contacted about possible life-saving matches in the future.

The event will take place 3-5 p.m., at the Avera Dells Area Clinic, and at the Dell Rapids Public boys and girls basketball games that same night.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Grant was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2010 after experiencing leg and back pain. After fighting the disease for over a year, Grant and his family found out his leukemia had returned last December.

After being in remission due to chemotherapy, the leukemia had returned.

“He did pretty well and even taught school last year,” Karen Vietor said of her son’s recovery. She said that he’s been in the hospital for over a month now, getting triple doses of chemotherapy to knock the disease out of his system.

In need of a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor, Grant is prepping for a procedure to implant the cells into his DNA to fight the leukemia. A match was found, and the procedure will soon take place.

“It was very scary for a while to see if Grant would have a donor. We prayed for somebody,” Karen said, and a 21-year-old male was found as a match.

The transplant date is set for Feb. 14, but doctors must first ensure he has cancerless bone marrow.

“It doesn’t take very long – an hour – and it’s done,” Karen said, likening it to a blood transfusion. “The critical time is the following month or so.”

She said that Grant will need to stay in isolation with no visitors. “He’s at a very vulnerable time. His system’s at zero when he starts this. They want the new cells to build up.”

Born and raised in Dell Rapids, Grant Vietor graduated from the local high school in 1984, active in athletics. He attended the University of Sioux Falls and is a teacher and coach in Iowa.

“This month is the first time in 24 years that he has not been able to coach his ball team,” Karen said. Grant coaches baseball, basketball, track and football.

Grant’s wife Bonita is a kindergarten teacher, and they have three children: Moriah, 15, Isaac, 12, and Christian, 8.

‘Be the Match Registry’

Grant’s niece Maddie is helping organize the registration drive in Dell Rapids. She said that it was an easy decision to get on board with the cause.

“I just really wanted to help other people like my uncle,” she said. “I know it’s a struggle to find donors.”

Interested registrants must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and have no cancer history.

“We really stress that this is a commitment for them,” Karen said. “They need to take this very seriously. What they’re doing is saving somebody’s life.”

If a registry member is contacted about a possible match, he or she must then give consent to participate in the transplant.

“We’re just extremely, extremely thankful that there was a donor out there that was a match,” Karen said. “This is his only hope – to get new stem cells.”

To hear more about Grant’s story visit caringbridge.org/visit/grantvietor. For more information on the drive, contact Karen Vietor at 201-5796. There is a Wells Fargo fund set up in Grant’s name for financial assistance with medical costs. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch.