to think this person is bloody amazing.

[GColdtimer]

A good friend is going in to hospital today to start his conditioning treatment for a stem cell transplant. Somewhere in the UK a man is going through a few days preparation in order to give a complete stranger a bag a stem cells that could save his life and allow him to see his two beautiful children grow up.

My friend is one of the lucky 1000 to find a match this year.

I think that man is amazing.

I know this issue comes up a lot on MN but please, please, please consider joining the Anthony Nolan register and/or giving blood. And whilst we are at it, please sign up for the organ donation too!

[FutTheShuckUp]

I enquired about joining the bone marrow register when I last gave blood- but ive heard nothing back, this was in July

[GColdtimer]

Have you tried the anthony nolan link Fut? If you fill in the form they will send you a saliva kit to your home. You can do it that way.

[FutTheShuckUp]

Okay will try those!
I know how vital bone marrow donation is, ive looked after many kids who's only hope is a BMT

[Grumpla]

Amazing. I hope it goes well for your friend.

I joined the Anthony Nolan register after reading about Ailidh here on Mumsnet. I am a bit scared of the procedure but at the same time I do really hope I might get the chance to donate one day. I'm not a medic or a superhero so this might be my only opportunity to save a life!

[CailinDana]

My DH is on the register, but hasn't heard anything either. He's far braver than I am and I really admire him.

[BikeRunSki]

That man is amazjng. I looked into Anthony Nolan but am too old. I'm on the organ register though, the Parkinson's Disease brain register and I give blood.

[Punkatheart]

What a lovely post. As someone who may well benefit in the future, I thank all the wonderful people who do this, including Cailin's OH. If I may - I know he is your husband - but please give him a hug from a random stranger.

[GColdtimer]

thank you everyone.

Bikeski, well done. If you give blood I think you can donate until you are 50, might be worth asking.

Grumpla and Cailin, the process is not that invasive these days, you generally dont need a GA and they collect the cells in much the same way as they collect blood. I have been on the register for about 5 years and have never been matched either.

AN matched 1000 people this year so rates are improving, just not quickly enough for some sadly.

[GColdtimer]

Punkaheart, I hope you are OK.

[MikeLitorisBites]

I'm on the register hope I can donate one day.

I can't give blood but I am on the organ donation register.

[Boomerwang]

I used to give blood. It was a kind of present to my OH after he'd received a few transfusions. Knowing he couldn't give back, I thought I'd do it for him.

I've slacked off since moving away from home, though. You've reminded me to sort it out and start giving again. I'm AB+ and I think that's not a common one although I don't know if it's in much demand.

[RuleBritannia]

BikeRunSki

50 years old is not the cut off age for donating blood. That's more like 70 (oer perhaps more than that).

Anthony Nolan cut off point is 40 something or it was when I tried to join. Can't understand why they have cut off points though.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

He is amazing, but so are the many other people on the bone marrow donation register who are willing to do this when/if they get the call.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

The cut off for joining the British Bone Marrow Registry if you are a blood donor is 49. They take an extra blood sample at your donation.

[Brodicea]

Just had a look at the Anthony Nolan website and the age range is to become 16-30 so I miss out by two years.

[BikeRunSki]

Oooh, will look at British Bone Marrow Transplant. I am nearly 42 so too old for Anthony Nolan. I first gave blood 2 days after my 18th birthday and have done ever since. I'll keep going til they stop me. Went with baby DD recently and had to tell the nurse that their guidelines for donation after pregnancy had changed from 9 months to 6.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

BikeRunSki
Here is some more info
www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/

They work with Anthony Nolan if a BM donor is needed so you only need to be on one register as both are checked during a search.

[Nevertalktomeduringthejackal]

Thank you for this reminder! I am an organ donor and give blood every six weeks, and until today was confident that I had signed up to the AN register. One of my friends is very involved in the publicity of it and I had imagined that I had signed up before as I always intended to - it was an above poster mentioning the spit which made me think I hadn't, and indeed I had not! How stupid of me.

All signed up now. Thank you, and sending lots of love and well wishes to your friend xxx

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

What a wonderful thing to do.

Last time I gave blood I just told them at the start I wanted to go on the bone marrow donor list and they just take an extra vial of blood to get tissue type...about 2 weeks after I gave blood I got a letter confirming I was on the bone marrow donor list. It is easy!

[GColdtimer]

Sorry, yes the cut off point for giving blood isn't 50. But you can join the BBMT until you are 50. Bodecia, it might be worth looking at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/

That is good to hear betty.

[Vagaceratops]

If you have registered with AN, do you need to register with the NHS too or do they share details?

[arthurfowlersallotment]

Good post. I'll be back to donating blood when I'm allowed to again after birth.

On a side note, I donated my cord blood- and done all the questionnaire, health check and filled out the forms before hand. The woman collecting the blood came in when I was in bloody agony and high as a kite, telling me she didn't have my forms and getting on my tits by hassling me and rummaging in my notes for my copy of the consent form. I was quite annoyed that they didn't have all the correct documentation if I'm honest. Jesus, I'd already done my side of it. Ok rant over.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Vagaceratops
No - you just need to be on one of the lists either AN or BBMR (NHS).
Yes - they do share details.

[SlightlyConfusedAlwaysMad]

After reading this I have applied to AN. I turn 30 next year though so not sure how much good it will do.