Join the donor registry!

[TurboKitty]

I just got the word. I am both a match and healthy enough to be able to help someone.

I am going to Washington DC next week to donate bone marrow for a gentleman who I don't know.

I gave a bit a blood over eleven years ago and was contacted last month.

If you are healthy enough to give blood, please consider joining the registry.

I look at it as, "A tiny blip on the overall picture of my life in order to help someone so much." Should anyone I care for need it, I hope others are willing to step up and be there.

May 13th is a national drive in America. It's called "Thanks, Mom!"

http://www.marrow.org/NEWS/EVENTS/MOM06/mom_idx.html

 

[mickeyboat]

I just got the word. I am both a match and healthy enough to be able to help someone.

I am going to Washington DC next week to donate bone marrow for a gentleman I don't know.

I gave a bit a blood over eleven years ago and was contacted last month.

If you are healthy enough to give blood, please consider joining the registry.

I look at it as, "A tiny blip on the overall picture of my life in order to help someone so much." Should anyone I care for need it, I hope others are willing to step up and be there.

May 13th is a national drive in America. It's called "Thanks, Mom!"

http://www.marrow.org/NEWS/EVENTS/MOM06/mom_idx.html

That is incredible news! I am so impressed that you have agreed to donate - and a little bit jealous!

I have been a member of the HLA registry for almost 10 years. I just got a card to update my information, which I have done.

Denae

 

[Mimi Q]

Great that you are able to help someone. I have been on the registry for many years, too.

 

[TurboKitty]

Denae, and Mimi, I am delighted you're both on the registry. Stay updated and, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[aero99]

Interesting that you posted this. My Mom, Dad, Brother and I have been on teh registry since the 90's and my brother is donating on the 24th in DC. I am heading up to be with him for it.

Congrats on helping save a life!

 

[skoopman]

TurboKitty, THANK YOU for donating and to everyone who is on the registry thank you as well.

I kow first hand how vital and important the bone marrow registry is. My 5 year old daughter just underwent a bone marrow transplant in November. She did not have any matches in our family so we had to turn to the registry. They found a 35 year old man from Germany (don't know any more than that) who matched her and he agreed to donate. This man is a hero in our eyes and the only reason my daughter is alive today! I will never be able to repay him for what he did for us and our family. He gave my daughter not only her childhood but her entire life. She can now go on and do whatever she wants to do and be whatever she wants to be because of this man's generosity!

I know many many children who are getting sicker and sicker because there is not a match available for them. My husband and I are both on the registry and I hope I can someday donate for someone else and help save their life.

On a side note, for those who don't want the committment that a possible bone marrow donation requires, go and give blood. Blood products (red cells and platelets) kept my daughter alive for 6 months since her body was not producing blood cells on it's own. We had one day that we had to wait to get platelets (the component of blood that helps blood to clot) because there were no acceptable ones in the blood bank for her. I sat around all day watching her for signs of spontaneous bleeding. Scary!!! and not a position anyone should ever have to be put in.

Anyways, I don't want to sound like I am forcing people to do this, but I want let you know that right here is one person who has been directly affected.

THANK YOU!
Suzanne

 

[TurboKitty]

Very cool aero. I think they'll be doing the actual collection with me on the 24th also.

I am getting the peripheral blood stem cell donation method, rather than the traditional cut technique. Not sure of the name of the facilty I'll be at though. The DoD Donor Center is the one handling all my info, as I used to tend bar for the Navy.

 

[Poohgirl]

We just had a drive for a classmate of my DS(8) who needs a marrow transplant, Sunday and had 330 new people join myself included . It felt good to do something positive... and if unfortunately none of us are a match for him, maybe we can help someone else in the future!

 

[Poohgirl]

Very cool aero. I think they'll be doing the actual collection with me on the 24th also.

I am getting the peripheral blood stem cell donation method, rather than the traditional cut technique. Not sure of the name of the facilty I'll be at though. The DoD Donor Center is the one handling all my info, as I used to tend bar for the Navy.

Best of luck to you!

 

[AuntieM03]

I have a question. If you do match and it is someone in another state who pays for the traveling expenses?

 

[mrsmom]

I have been thinking of doing this for awhile, One of my children was born with medical problems ,so we see alot of children at the hospital, I give blood alot but how would i go about getting tested for the bone marrow list?
Kim

 

[TurboKitty]

Well, I have been postponed for three months. The gentleman needs more chemo right now, and I'm on his schedule here.

skoopman, thank you so much for sharing that! I am glad your girl was given a chance.

Poohgirl, I'm sorry none of you matched, but I'm glad you were willing to join. Years from now, you just might be a match for someone else.

AuntieM03, his insurance covers my expenses for the collection. (Within limits and reason. Airfare and hotel are paid for. I also get $50 per day for meals. This also goes for one companion for me-to hold my hand and lend moral support.)

mrsmom, check the link in my OP and see if any sites are near you. Also, I think you can ask about it anywhere you give blood.

 

[AuntieM03]

Well, I have been postponed for three months. The gentleman needs more chemo right now, and I'm on his schedule here.

skoopman, thank you so much for sharing that! I am glad your girl was given a chance.

Poohgirl, I'm sorry none of you matched, but I'm glad you were willing to join. Years from now, you just might be a match for someone else.

AuntieM03, his insurance covers my expenses for the collection. (Within limits and reason. Airfare and hotel are paid for. I also get $50 per day for meals. This also goes for one companion for me-to hold my hand and lend moral support.)

mrsmom, check the link in my OP and see if any sites are near you. Also, I think you can ask about it anywhere you give blood.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[aero99]

TurboKitty, thought I might get to meet you but I hope all works out for your recipient. I will let you know how things go for my brother. He lives in DC so other than taking a day off from work, he doesn't require any travel. I work for the govt so I have the ability to take the day off using sick leave to be with him. It will be a good brother/sister bonding day.

Poohgirl, my family all got on the registry because a young (15) member of our church was in need. The whole town pratically showed up but no one matched. She ended up taking a less than perfect match and well it didn't work. But her legacy lives on in the lifes that are saved by all the people who registered because of her.

 

[skoopman]

To answer the question about travel, the recipients insurance covers all medical costs. One very common misconception is the donor and recipient have to be at the same hospital. Not so. Our donor was in Germany. He had his stem cells extracted, a person from our hospital flew to pick them up and hand carried them on the plane and returned to our hospital. The donor had to go to nearest hospital that could perform the procedure, but it should not have been too terribly far away.

As for adding yourself to the registry you should be able to call your local Red Cross or blood bank and get some information. If you are caucasian there is typically a fee involved, around $65. If you a minority, or mixed then the cost should be covered.

I am happy there is some interest and it is always good to get more people informed and added.

TurboKitty, I was told when we first met with our transplant team that a lot of people on the registry were from the military since the DoD encourages them to sign up.

Suzanne

 

[krcit]

A friend and I were out one night about 10 years ago and saw a sign for a bone marrow drive for a young girl. Being new moms, we felt compelled to go and register to be donors. Fast forward a few months and my friends son was diagnosed with leukemia-the day he got home from the hospital, a letterf rom the bone marrow registry thanking her for registering was in the mail. We took it as a sign that her son would be fine and Thank God, he is! He never needed a bone marrow transplant and has been cancer free for 8 years(so he's considered cured ) Anyway, I'm still on the donor list and would love to be a match for someone-what a gift that would be(for me, I mean!)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

YEAH!

I did a Texas Roadhouse fundraiser and had the bloodmobile there for Team in Training. All blood donors that day registered for the bone marrow registry.

I went earlier in the day (huge huge evil fear of needles so didn't want issues at the event I organized).

So I'm registered--but no takers yet.

That is awesome that you have been contacted! I hope the transplant is effective for your recipient.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As for adding yourself to the registry you should be able to call your local Red Cross or blood bank and get some information. If you are caucasian there is typically a fee involved, around $65. If you a minority, or mixed then the cost should be covered.

According to our bloodbank it is actually more expensive than that.

It is free when you donate blood (they just take extra for the purpose of registering you in the bone marrow registry).

Not sure if it is differnt from blood bank to blood bank. But for Central Florida this is the case.

The cost I think was well over $100 though if you do not donate.

So call your blood bank. It is very likely that anyone can do this for free and then your visit serves a double purpose. Someone gets a pint--and you get registered in the bone marrow registry.

ETA: You let them know before collection so that they set up the proper materials. You can't say mid-donation that you want to register.