I'm a potential bone marrow donor...

[rainbowpony]

I got a call today as a high likelihood match, having been on the donor register for nearly 20 years.

I'd love to hear stories of people on either end of giving and receiving. I have some research to do to understand what I'm committing to, as it seems it is no small undertaking, it has been some time since I registered and life is different now with young kids. My husband is a little nervous and risk adverse on my behalf.

However, the thought of giving someone hope in their hour of need feels like the only decision I can make, as I can't help but imagine it could be one of my kids in need.

Wow! That's so exciting. I'm on the register too but have never been called. My understanding is that donating nowadays is much simpler than it used to be. Good luck!

Having known someone who's childs life has very probably been saved by a donor who has no connection to them, they will be eternally grateful to the stranger who's done this for them.

How fabulous!
I’m sure google can throw up some info but I understand your hesitation
I’d do it without a worry myself

I've recently registered with DKMS and am really hoping to get the call one day. My mum died of leukaemia earlier this year, and having seen what a horrible disease it is, I would love to help someone who has it.

Mum was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant but was too poorly for chemo in the end, so it never happened. But a friend's brother has recently had a successful bone marrow transplant for the same disease (friend was the donor) and it's saved his life.

Congratulations, that's so exciting! Can I suggest you watch some Anthony Nolan YouTube videos? If I recall correctly they have some from different points of views

I’ve been a recipient of an anonymous donor transplant and one friend has successfully donated, two more have been initial matches but not the best match available.

The vast majority of transplants are now carried out through stem cell donation, the process of which is massively simpler than traditional bone marrow donation.

It is a very admirable thing to do.

Try not to get your hopes up too much however as it can be very disappointing to get through the process and be told you are not a match, take it a step at a time.

I was a recipient of my own stem cells - if it’s stem cells not bone marrow collection then it’s just like giving a really long blood donation that goes on for a while.

My perspective - I nearly died as a result of the damage high dose chemo did to my immune system. Stem cells are really amazing. I lost friends who had BMTs that didn’t work.

If you can do it, do it. If it’s stem cell harvesting not bone marrow harvesting the risks are very low. I don’t like the sound of bone marrow donation, but I’d like to think of it was something I could do (I can’t obv) then I would.

There is a lot of information online on how this process is undertaken and you will be well looked after if you are a match. Please do your research as you are facing a huge decision.

My Dad had blood cancer and received a stem cell transplant, this gave a very ill man another 5 years with his wife and family and lived life to the full until it sadly failed.

Everyday I am grateful to the donor who gave their time and discomfort, to a stranger. This meant holidays, a family wedding and seeing his grandchild grow up.

Best of luck, if donating is the way forward for you.

I donated 8 years ago. Was easy process. As I recall I had to go and give blood samples and had a full medical. For 5 days before the donation the district nurse came and injected me to release the stem cells into my blood stream. On the day I was linked up to the machine and in total was there about 8 hours.

They prepare you for the worst ie you’ll have to do 2 days or have an op to donate but it was all fine.

My mum was a donor about 10 years ago. She is very petite, about 5foot 2 inches and about 8 stones, and the person she was donating to was considerably larger (we didn't find out any other info) She had to have injections to stimulate the growth, (iirc she had to take tablets forna couple of weeks beforehand as well) and had to donate for 2 days instead of 1. It was incredibly painful for my mum, she said around her pelvis and low back felt like a very prolonged labour , struggled to walk, unable to get comfy at all lying down(she was around 50 at the time, and had us kids in her early 20's). Despite the intense pain for 2 days, and aching for a few days after that, she says she wouldn't have changed it for the world,and would do it again without question,knowing the good it was for.

I was 10 stone and donating to a very overweight, over 6 foot man and they got all they needed from me in one go.

I forgot about the back pain Spinningbib - there’s nothing like it, it’s really painful.

It took me 5 days of harvesting to get enough cells for my transplant - that’s because of the amount of chemo I’d had by that point though and isn’t normal in a healthy donor.

Congrats! I have worked with hundreds of patients who have had bone marrow transplants. It's an amazing thing to do. I love it at Christmas, when former patients come in and it makes my day to see them and catch up, knowing they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the transplant. I have patients from years and years ago. These days patients tend to donate stem cells via a dialysis type machine, as opposed to bone marrow which is extracted under GA in theatre. You will need to pass a medical and have confirmatory bloods taken. Then you have a few (very small) injections under the skin to get your stem cells in your blood. After that the process is to go on a machine to have the cells extracted. Takes about 4hours? Sometimes people need more than one collection. From all of my patients (one of whom you could be saving!!) thank you. X