The search for bone marrow matches for two Manteca city employees continues today at the City Council chambers in the 1000 block of West Center Street from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Manteca Police officer Stephen Dowswell and vehicle maintenance worker Randy Karim are both suffering from different forms of leukemia. They are seeking the help of Manteca area residents this week following a similar drive held last week among 100 city workers volunteering to have their cheeks swabbed.

Dowswell’s story was told last week in the Bulletin but Karim wasn’t available on the telephone.

Karim, 55, and his wife Maria have two children, 9 and 12 years old.

He has worked for the city for the past 10 years and has undergone a whirlwind of medical treatments since September when he was first diagnosed with acute leukemia after complaining of feeling very, very tired.  A bone marrow transplant is reported to be likely once the medical team determines how he has responded to chemotherapy.

Karim has been receiving numerous transfusions and would like to thank those who have taken the time to give blood in his name.  He has been in three different hospitals including St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Doctors Medical Center and Stanford.

He has only been able to be home for a few days since he was stricken in September; however he is at home currently recuperating from a second bout with pneumonia and attempting to get stronger before continuing the challenges of his next steps of therapy.

Officials from the BloodSource Marrow Registry Drive are thanking everyone who has stepped up to help patients like Karim and Steve Dowswell.