Son is a potential match for stem cell donation

[LumpyandBumps]

I don’t have anyone in RL to speak to about this. My son is on a donor register and today received a message to say that he is a possible match for someone who needs a stem cell transplant due to blood cancer.
Does anyone have any experience of stem cell donation?
My son is keen to proceed and I am pleased for him and will support him, but please don’t judge me when I say that I am worried.
Are there risks to the donor? ( he will still go ahead, but I just want to be prepared.)
I am possibly a little paranoid as around 20 months ago my late husband had surgery which had an average success rate of 98%. Sadly he was in the 2%.

As someone who has newly been diagnosed with leukaemia and will be having a stem cell transplant, please thank your son from the bottom of my heart. We’re hopeful that my brother will be a match but have the option from the register if not.

I myself have been on the DKMS register for 10 years since my brother in law was diagnosed with leukaemia, obviously nie I need to come if it!

Thank you for your kind words.
I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and hope all goes well with your brother being a donor, or if not a match is found from the register.
Also very well done for being on the register yourself. I know several people who have joined after someone they know became ill, but I would like to see more publicity to encourage people. I didn’t meet the criteria sadly.
Take care

A friend went through the bone marrow donation process over 40 years ago. She is now in her 70s and still fit and healthy. It’s a marvellous thing to do.

I would like to thank everyone who has commented, and if ok give a brief update.

DKMS phoned my son yesterday afternoon to go through details of the process, and sent a pack to take to our GP for blood tests.

He has an appointment tomorrow morning. One of the nurses is coming in early especially to do the tests.

Fingers crossed that all will be well.

I work in cancer care research. Your son is doing something so special. Best of luck. I'm sure all will go well.

I joined the register a few years ago when I heard about the son of someone I was at school with who needed a transplant. Mercifully he got a match and is doing well

I wouldn’t have joined the register if it wasn’t reasonably straightforward because I’m a wimp!

You sound like an absolutely amazing mum, and you should be so proud that you’ve raised your son to think of others. What an absolute credit to you

My husband was a recipient so thank your son for registering. We were surprised how quickly a match was found.

The transplant for the recipient is BRUTAL but my husband has recovered well.

Hi @Boymama14 don't want to derail thread too much, but hope all.going well for your boy.

Hi, OP -

I am so sorry about your late husband. When the statistics are generally excellent, a bad outcome is particularly shocking and, I’m sure, painful. But you can be proud of the part you’ve played in helping to shape your son’s values, and very proud of him.

@Boymama14 I too hope all is going well for your boy.

I’ve found this thread really inspiring and moved me to sign up when I read it. The swab kit arrived today and I have just posted off the completed kit. Wishing everyone here all the best

That’s brilliant. Well done and thank you. The more potential donors the better the chance of finding a match.
My son had his blood tests today and they have been sent by Special Delivery to DKMS in London. Fingers crossed!

My husband has just been matched to a young male donor-be funny if it ended up being your wonderful son! I was suprised to hear the donor was a closer match than my husbands siblings. Was also amazed the donor was so young, just astonishing someone can be so kind.

hopeishere, would love to know more about the recovery for your DH. We are looking at end April to begin conditioning.@hopeishere

Oh how wonderful.

I shall look into being a donor also. Never thought of it before, so your thread and pps experiences have both informed and encouraged me.

Much love to you all.

I hope all goes well for your husband.
It does seem strange that an unrelated donor could be a better match than a family member, although my daughter is also on a register, and didn’t match with this patient.
My son is 23, and has been on the register for about 4 years now. It would indeed be a lovely coincidence if he matched with your husband. He was told that it would be 2-3 months before he is called upon to donate, assuming the more detailed test results are still positive.
Best wishes

I've sent you a message @Lemondrizzling

I'm not a mum, I am a father though. I don't plan on using this site after this but I seen your post whilst googling and felt I needed to say something.

I have just arrived home after donating my stem cells today. I can assure you it's a totally pain free procedure and I didnt have any issues, you are required to sit still for a number of hours but that's the worst of it. Talking from experience, you have nothing to be worried about at all. Hope this helps!

Thank you for this.
Well done for being a donor. You are literally a life saver.
My son is keen to go ahead. We have done everything we can this end and are just waiting for further contact from DKMS. They have said it might be up to 3 months from when he had the blood tests.
Fingers crossed he is still a good match and the patient is able to receive the stem cells.

@Mb0395 you are a legend!

@LumpyandBumps great to hear your son is still in the process and keen, hope he gets an update soon! X