Any Bone Marrow Donors out here?

[CharityLynn]

I have thought about registering for a couple years now, not from a personal experince or anything. I belive the thought first crept in when I read an aarticle in a magazine. Then this week on Good Morning America they brought it up and now there is a thread here on the dis that mentioned it.

I'd probably go in a heartbeat if we had a center here in my town but I'd have to drive over a hour to get to one. The more I think about it the less the travel time bothers me, I mean this could save someon's life...

I'm curious is anyone here on the registry? Has anyone had a personal experince with it?

 

[aprilgail2]

I am on the registry. When my godson was diagnosed with leukemia I went on the registry. His donor did not end up coming from around here though, they found one for him in England...not a perfect match but it worked...but with all the radiation they gave him prior to transplant it caused brain tumors which led to his death...but I am thankful to that donor for giving us 7 more years with him than we would have had if he had not donated his bone marrow to save Matt.

 

[Jillpie]

I am in the registry. Many years ago, there was a child in my hometown that needed a match. So they had a drive, and I got tested. So ever since then, I get mailings to make sure they know my current address. I would be honored and so happy if I was a match to someone someday.

Go for it. You're doing a fantastic thing. You'll probably never be picked, but you just might.

 

[arminnie]

I'm in the registry and helped organize a drive this past fall. We had reps from the National Marrow Program come to Little Rock for the day. We registered several hundred people.

There is a video provided for you to watch that explains the process of what the procedure is like for a donor. Then you fill out a very lengthy questionnaire about your health, lifestyle, etc.

You are basically committing to being on the registry until you turn 60 - or until you request to be removed. There are certain things that will disqualify you - I think diabetes might be one of them.

Then you go and talk to a counselor who makes sure that you understand what you are doing and that you have nothing on the questionnaire to disqualify you. Then you go to the nurse who takes the blood.

It is a very thorough procedure, and they were quite organized.

A friend's brother was a donor for him (back in the days when it needed to be a relative). His brother said he was sore for about a week, but it was more like a bruise kind of soreness rather than acute pain.

Harvesting the marrow used to be very painful, but now it is done with anesthetic and there should only be discomfort from pressure not horrible pain.

My signature picture was taken at the Marrow Drive.

 

[Lil_Tink]

I beleive I am two young. But as soon as I can choose I want my body parts to be donated when I am desise.

 

[georgina]

I've been on the registry for many years, through the blood bank here. I've never been called, but every few years they send me a letter to check that I am still living in the same place.

 

[Mimi Q]

I have been on the registry for many years.

 

[HayGan]

I have been on the registry for many years. I was registered when I was tested to find a match for my sister. Sadly, she lost her battle with leukemia in 1998. I hope that someday I can be the one to help someone beat this terrible disease!!!

 

[ducklite]

DH and I are both on the registry. We've also both signed organ donor cards, as has DS.

DH gives blood religiously every other month. I'm precluded from giving blood due to collapsing veins and low blood pressure, luckily I can still donate marrow.

Anne

 

[chrissyk]

I'm on the registry. I got on it during a drive for a local child that had cancer years ago.

 

[Tracey1974]

My uncle has leukemia and my Dad (they are twins) just did a marrow donation for him. He said it really wasn't very painful, he was just very tired after it. I think he did a wonderful thing and know if it was reverse, my uncle would do the same for my Dad.

 

[Snoozan]

My DH has been on the registry for many years and has been a blood donor for eons. I think he's over 14 gallons. I'm so proud of him for doing that. I'd give if I could, but I have non-existent veins so I've been told to not bother trying to donate. I'm lucky, in a way, as I have an identical twin sister so if I ever needed bone marrow(or vice versa)I'd have a match.

 

[Disney Doll]

I've been registered for several years now, but have never been called.

If I were called, I would certainly go. I couldn't live with myself if I knew I had a way to save someone's life, there was minimal discomfort or danger to me, and I didn't do it.

 

[kasar]

About a year ago I was notified that I was a possible match. I had more blood work (lots more taken out that time) but it ended up not being a complete match and they didn't need me.

They sent me a bunch of literature and more consent forms so I would be all ready to go if needed. After reading what was involved I was really nervous. I would have gladly done it but I have to admit I was a little relieved when I wasn't chosen.

 

[krcit]

I'm on the registry. A friend and I were out one night and saw a sign for a drive for a little girl. We were both new moms (our kids were about 1 year old) and were just so moved by her story that we got up early the next day and went. Fast forward a few months-my friends little son is diagnosed with leukemia-we were devastated as you can imagine. He was in the hopital for a few weeks and the day he got home, in the mail, was my friends bone marrow donar registry card. We took it as a good omen and sure enough, 8 1/2 years later, her son is a healthy and active 10 year old boy. He never did require a transplant. I would consider it a true honor to be a match for someone.

 

[KathyTX]

I've been on the registry for several years. If you donate platelets, many blood banks can add you to the bone marrow donor registry with just a little extra paperwork.

I've never been called, but I don't think I'd hesitate for a moment if I got a call telling me I'm a potential match and could help prolong someone's life.

 

[lewdyan1]

I' have been on the registry for a few years, no calls though.

 

[christineann]

I am on the registry though I have not been called yet. I also donate platelets. I got registered after a close friend died of pneumonia a year after being diagnosed with AML. She had had a bone marrow transplant (her brother was a match), and she was doing well after the transplant. I only wish I had registered earlier - unfortunately, I had never thought about it, though I have always been a blood donor.

 

[tar heel]

DH and I along with a lot of our friends have been on the registry for a couple of years. A friend of ours -- a very nice woman my age with two teenagers -- needed a bone marrow transplant as her last option in treatment and our church organized a drive. No one from church matched, but she did find a donor on the national registry and is doing fairly well now. She met her donor earlier this year.

It is extremely easy to get on the registry -- they only do a finger prick for the blood. There is usually a fee to the donor if you you're able to pay. When we did it, donors paid half and the Rick Hendrick Foundation paid the other half.

 

[kdibattista]

I'm on the registry but have not been a donor.... yet.