DAPHNE — Family and friends are rallying around Alletta Jackson, a Fairhope woman who is undergoing a bone marrow transplant in Texas.

Although she overcame having non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma two years ago, Jackson learned late last year that the cancer had returned.

While strong chemotherapy took care of that cancer, Jackson still needed a bone marrow transplant — a procedure that is taking place in Houston.

After a week of some final outpatient tests, Jackson was formally admitted to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Thursday night.

She left home on April 23 and began the first round of chemotherapy Friday, which is part of the transplant process. Jackson is undergoing an autologous transplant, which means that her own bone marrow will be used in the procedure.

Deborah Byrd, a close friend, likened this procedure to a “recycling program” for Jackson’s marrow.

“One of the first things they do is to give her some shots to increase the stem cells in her own system,” Byrd said.

“That’s important because that’s what is going to be cleaned up and then reinserted into her body,” she said.

Doing this type of procedure usually provides two to three years of protection from cancer, Byrd said.

But, at that point, Jackson may need additional bone marrow, which is why her friends are sponsoring two drives locally next week, she said.

The first bone marrow drive take place at the Fairhope Civic Center on Friday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A second drive will be held Saturday, May 12, at Zoghby’s Uniform Shop (located at 4851 Old Shell Road) in Mobile, from 12 to 4 p.m.

Donors should be between 18 and 60 years of age, she said.

“Because we realize that it may take time to find a matching donor for her, the doctors urged us to get working on this as soon as possible,” Byrd said.

The testing procedure is a “simple swab of the mouth” and is not painful or time consuming, she said.

This type of procedure normally costs $25 to $50, but will be done for free at these two drives, thanks to the National Bone Marrow Foundation’s special Mother’s Day project, Byrd said.

Participating may help Jackson or someone else needing a marrow donor, she said.

“All of the samples we collect will go into a national data bank for comparison not only to Alletta, but to others who are also in need,” Byrd said.

“So it really is a win-win situation for all of us, because we’re trying to help our friend as well as others who are in this same situation,” she said.

Simply participating or being listed in the national registry does not mean that anyone is required to donate their marrow, Byrd said.

“For example, I’ve been on the national registry for 12 years and I’ve never even been contacted as a possible match.”

The kindness of strangers is an important part of this marrow matching process, Byrd said.

“If it were you, or a member of your family, wouldn’t you want to know about every single donor possible?” she said.

Another one of Jackson’s friends, Karen Darring of Fairhope, will be using a portable lab to collect samples from possible donors, Byrd said.

“If someone wants to be sampled but can’t come to one of the other drives, Karen will come to them with the swab kits on May 11,” she said.

Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant has approved Darring’s coming in to swab interested city workers, Byrd said.

Other businesses are also considering allowing this, she said.

“On Saturday, Karen will be going to the ballfields in Fairhope to do sampling. That’s because many of Alletta’s friends will be out with their kids and this is a way for them to still help out,” Byrd said.

Anyone wishing to contribute financially can do so at any area RBC Bank, she said.

Donations should be made to the estate of Alletta T. Jackson, Byrd said.

Additional information or questions should be directed to Byrd at 689-0346.

Health information on bone marrow transplants is available at www.marrow.org.