Will You Join the National Marrow Donor Program (or another marrow donor bank?

[moriah]

I recently learned about the National Marrow Donor Program, and I registered in it.

It is a national registry of willing donors and their tissue types. If a person registers, they get their blood and tissue typed and that information is added to the registry. If a patient who needs a bone marrow transplant matches you, you will be asked to donate to them.

There are two ways to donate.

1) Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection -- this is the most common procedure, very similar to donating plasma, but if your veins are too small to give blood or plasma, they can use other veins.

2) Traditional Bone Marrow Harvest -- You are put under general anesthesia and they take a bit of the marrow from your pelvic bone. It is not very similar at all to the way it used to be done, it's a very easy procedure.

They do have some medical criteria, but it's for the patient and donor safety.

Donors of different ethnicities are VERY NEEDED! Less than 10 percent of registered donors are African-American or Hispanic. Less than 7% of registered donors are Asian. That number goes down dramatically for Native Americans/Native Alaskans, and for people of mixed race.

Go to www.marrow.org to examine and sign up! If you cannot cover the $52 fee (tax deductible, BTW!) that covers the typing of your blood/tissue, go www.dkmsamericas.org, where they will send you a kit free.

This YouTube video expresses quite clearly why registered donors are needed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUFB542Iak

Thank you!

[TZ]

1. Thank you for posting this

Its possible someday I may need a bone marrow transplant (I have a rare bone marrow/blood disorder)..so while I can't participate, I might benefit from it.
:)

[moriah]

2. Sorry to hear about your illnesss....

I hope that if you ever do need a bone marrow transplant that me and others joining the registry will help save your life.

[bertha katzenengel]

3. How I wish I could.

:(

[jberryhill]

4. General anaesthesia?

When I donated pelvic bone marrow several years ago, they used a local.

The donating part is easy.

It's feeling like you were kicked by a horse for the next few days which is mildly discomforting.

[moriah]

22. I guess you can get it with a local, too, but I'd want to be knocked out.

[Critters2]

5. I've thought about doing this for a while now. Thanks for giving me a push! nt

[MrCoffee]

6. Weird...

They put up flyers at work about this a couple of weeks ago, thanks for reminding me to call!

[dropkickpa]

7. Don't qualify

2 factors, previous cancer and latex allergy

[latebloomer]

8. Bless you!!

I am the very grateful recipient of a stranger's stem cells. I'm over 7 months post-transplant and doing well.

I am amazed at the people who will do this for someone they've never met.

PS- That was you posting on the Leukemia and Lymphoma board, yes?

Welcome to DU!

[moriah]

12. Yep, it was me, LateBloomer...

I'm so glad you are doing well!

I am trying to see if I can arrange a donor registration drive in my town -- there is a high Hispanic population in our area, and the company that I work for has quite a few first and 2nd generation immigrants and other minorities. Since people with unique ethnicities are so needed, I figured it would be a good place to start.

Unfortunately most of the options on marrow.org are directed toward companies, and I don't know the best way to approach my company about it.

I'm so glad that you are better and I am really hoping that we can get more people to register.

[latebloomer]

13. That's great that you're doing that!

Yes, certain ethnic groups have trouble getting donors- on the LLS board I've seen that problem with people of Asian ancestry, including those from India.

[Skittles]

15. hey latebloomer

I'm on a blood machine 90 minutes every two weeks to donate platelets, for people I will never meet. Yes INDEED!

[latebloomer]

16. I am so grateful that there are people like you, Skittles!

When I had to get blood transfusions, and also platelets, I would marvel about how kind some people are. I don't think most people give much thought to how important this is.

[Skittles]

20. aw thanks

it's cool to hear from folk like you - like when I got pulled over for speeding and the cop inquired about the wrap on my arm - I told him I had just donated platelets. He said his mom was being treated for breast cancer, told me thanks and let me off with a warning (along with the knowledge that he saw me frequently in the area and would be watching my speed LOLOL). :hi:

[latebloomer]

24. LOL! That reminds me

that years ago, when my mom was undergoing breast cancer treatment, she was speeding down the highway for a few days gambling in Atlantic City.

When the cop pulled her over, she ripped off her scarf, showed him her bald head, and claimed she had diarrhea and was rushing to the nearest bathroom-- a total fabrication, of course.

He backed RIGHT off.

[Skittles]

26. OMG!! THE TROTS EXCUSE!!!

AWESOME!!! :thumbsup:

[moriah]

18. I wish I could donate platelets...

The center outright refused to use me for it -- my veins are too small, they have a really hard time getting the vein not to collapse.

[Skittles]

19. oh you should hear my tales of woe

I'm such a regular they stick newbies on me - the last one looked like an 18 year old Prince Harry - he tapped the crook of my arm and the guy with him said, "Now, remember what you learned in class today." Hoo boy. He did a WONDERFUL job though.

Alas, I'm so used to doing this kind of stuff I forget about post-procedure instructions - last Thursday I was fooling around with my arm in the toilet tank (trying to see what exactly was making a noise) and that damn donor site started oozing. :(

[WritingIsMyReligion]

9. Too young.

;)

[KitchenWitch]

10. I had cancer, can't donate.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. I used to be in that registry...

But they booted me out because now I'm too old...

I think you have to be 60 or under...

:hi:

[Skittles]

14. been on it for decades

and have donated about 30 gallons of blood products

[moriah]

23. Good for you!

Did they ever contact you about a match?

Also, make sure to update your information any time you move!

[mainegreen]

17. I'm already in the registry.

A while ago a DUer posted about a sick little boy named Trevor.
Trevor was the same age as my son at the time. I couldn't imagine if my son was sick like that, and couldn't find a match because no one was in the registry.

So I registered.

[moriah]

21. Bumping for Donors -- Only One New One Pledged So Far?

Surely we can get more than that...

Fortunately we have learned that 8 others on already on the registry... I would give all of you donor stars if I could!

Will a cookie be good enough?

[SOteric]

25. I'm a bone marrow and stem cell donee.

I encourage all who are able to register. You never know whose life you might save. It might even be Kelly Brook or Johnny Depp. Or whomever.

[LeftyMom]

27. I'm already registered, but apparently my latex allergy is a bar to donation?

Never even occurred to me- since I can donate blood.

Actually the only medical issue I've ever had with it is that last week a phlebotomist stuck a non latex-free bandage on my arm and I got a nasty welt.

[moriah]

29. It's only a "severe or life-threatening allergy" to latex that is out.

I'm mildly allergic to latex. I only get a bit irritated using latex condoms, but we switched to the polyurethanes and we were happy.

What made my doctor diagnose a latex allergy was when I attempted to use a diaphragm. (Men, stop reading). I knew I wasn't allergic to even concentrated spermicides since I'd used the VCFs as a backup birth control for years. But the first time I wore it, before the time was up before I could remove it, I was cramping HORRIBLY, in a great deal of pain, and when I removed it I saw that it was bloody -- and it shouldn't have been. Went to the doctor and something had ulcerated my cervix. I waited to heal, and the doc suggested, to attempt to rule out if it was the spermicide, for me to insert it without the spermicide gel -- same thing happened again.

So I guess it's only mucous membranes that give me problems - I can wear latex bandages or have latex gloves used on me without a problem.

[SacredCow]

28. I would love to...

but it appears that they're not all that gay friendly... :(

[jus_the_facts]

30. Already registered...did so in 2002 during my Dad's losing battle with Leukemia. n/t