Robert Matsui's Passing: Another sign that we need more visibility for this disease

See the pasted text below from the AP which says Matsui died from "Milo Dysplastic Disorder." Um, HELLOOOOO?!?!! Fact checking, anyone?!! "Myelodysplastic Disorder!" How hard would that have been to look up before printing it worldwide?!

It's as ludicrous as saying someone died of a Milo Cardia Linfarction. Is there an editor in the building?! For heaven's sake!

WASHINGTON D.C. -- California Rep. Robert Matsui died from a blood disorder Saturday night at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington D.C. He was 63 years old.

According to a press release by press aid Jim Bonham, Matsui -- the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- spent his final days surrounded by family. His wife, Doris; his son, Brian; his daughter-in-law, Amy; and his granddaughter Anna survive Matsui.

One of the most senior members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Matsui was first elected to Congress in 1978. He has been returned to office in every election since, according to the press release.

"Bob wanted me to express his most profound gratitude to all of those he had the honor to serve and who made his life so extraordinary," said Doris Matsui. "Thank you to his constituents, his friends, his staff, and his colleagues. Brian, Amy, Anna and I will forever be grateful."

Matsui was the third ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the ranking member on the Social Security Subcommittee, and was elected two years ago by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

According to the press release, in recent months, Matsui had been battling Milo Dysplastic Disorder (MDS) -- a rare stem cell disorder that causes an inability of the bone marrow to produce blood products, such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The disorder leaves the patient at a heightened susceptibility to illness and compromises the ability to fight illness when it occurs.

Matsui entered Bethesda Naval Hospital on Dec. 24, 2004 with pneumonia, a complication that developed as a result of his prior illness, according to the release.