I donated stem cells through DKMS in Dec-23. Like your son, I was on the registry and got a phone call saying I was a match in the November. Apparently my recipient needed them quite quickly, so we went through all the stages relatively rapidly. So here's what happened, and please excuse the length.
First of all, there was an in person chat about what it entailed. I was donating via Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, so they explained that procedure and then put me through a whole host of health checks to see if I was healthy to donate. I got chest x-rays (ex smoker), full blood panels, honestly a more thorough health check than I have ever had on the NHS! The results showed I was healthy to donate so I was booked in and cleared through to the next stage which is the least fun stage.
So for a few days before you donate you have to inject yourself (ow) with a substance that increases you white blood cell count, your infection fighting bits in your blood, so that when your stem cells lands in its recipient, they're all - let's go fight them cancer cells! (This is my limited understanding of the biology with a double C in GCSE science). Now, let me tell you, this is the worst bit, the injections and how you feel rotten. Cos I'm on the chunkier side of life, I needed more injections. I had to do 3 x injections twice a day for 3 days I think? They're easy enough, they give you pre-loaded syringes, you just have to gather up a handful of belly fat (of which I have ample), shove in and press the syringe pusher. I found pressing a pack of frozen sweetcorn on my belly beforehand numbed the area to make me not notice the needle. This stuff they give you makes you feel horrid - all aches and pains deep down in your bones like you have flu. Now I've figured out this is the sensation of your body gearing up to fight infection. Anyways, it makes you feel like crap but fortunately is only a few days (I figured that this was small fry discomfort and pain in comparison with what my recipient was facing).
Then you're whipped into the hospital (there's only 3 in the country that do this I think and my one was the one in London where the royals occasionally go) and it was proper swish! Private, naturally, you got your own very lovely nurse to look after you and when they bring you lunch, you get a fancy menu to pick a multitude of tasty options from (it was like a fancy spa menu!). As for the procedure, you're in a bed (no need for pJs, no undressing involved) and basically they connect you up to a machine, tubes in both arms, sucks the blood out of one arm, puts it through the machine which centrifuges your donated blood so that the plasma (wherein the stem cells live) separates, then they pump the blood (without the plasma) back into your other arm.
It took me about 4-5 hours all in? And the dreadful infection fighting sensation from the injections dissipated within about an hour into the procedure. Then they check they've got all you need, you sit there and chill and then tootle off having done a good deed while a courier rushes your juices off the Heathrow to fly to the US, or at least mine did.
They pay expenses to cover your travel but I waived those as I live in London anyways. You can bring someone with you - I just brought my laptop and watched some iplayer. The nurse was lovely too, very kind and gentle.
Honestly, it wasn't painful in the slightest. The worst bit was feeling awful from the injections, that or my first commode experience. I didn't feel put at risk in any way, and altogether was very glad to make a positive difference to a stranger's life. It was a privilege.
The other thing is, I have friends and family who have had cancer. If someone's stem cells could have saved them, then I'd want there to be a match out there. And the person that needs mine, they have friends and family who also want a strangers juices to match. So for there to be someone for MY friends and family, I have to be that someone for someone else. It's a numbers game isn't it? With a side dose of be the change you want to see in the world.
Now, I don't know who my recipient was, I was only allowed a small bit of information about her - US based, aged 40-60, and a woman. But we have exchanged anonymised emails via DKMS and she's now survived 2 christmases she wasn't sure she'd ever get to see. So I consider that a win, and one of the best presents I could ever give.
I can understand concerns for your son's health, but they won't let him donate if he is unhealthy himself. I reckon, support him through it, and be aware he'll feel like he has manflu for those injection days, so maybe make him a hamper pack of things he likes when he's feeling ill. His favourite soup, some paracetamol, chocolate and perhaps a bag of frozen sweetcorn for the injection site!
And well done your son, g'wan lad. You can do it.... and the lunch is good too.
OK, longest post I've ever written on Mumsnet now complete.