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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this person is bloody amazing.

68 replies

GColdtimer · 10/10/2012 09:29

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!

OP posts:
freelancescientist · 10/10/2012 13:29

My DH donated 3 years ago via Anthony Nolan. To be honest it was 3-4 days out of our lives (a couple of trips to London and one overnight stay). He was a bit flu-y before from the injections he had before the donation but was straight back at work afterwards. No GA just sat next to a machine that took his blood, extracted the stem cells then gave him the rest back.
We had a Christmas card that year from the recipient that made us both cry.

QueenStromba · 10/10/2012 15:24

I'm really happy for your friend - I hope he makes a good recovery. I'd love to do this but my veins are so crap that a nurse had to take blood yesterday using fine needled syringe and decant it into the blood test tubes. I'll poke my DP about it though.

Toastwithatwist · 10/10/2012 15:34

I can't give blood at the moment, but I am registered for both bone marrow and organ donation. I was very pleased to learn I was eligible for bone marrow despite not being for blood. I check the situation re: blood donation about once a year to see if it's changed but as yet, no joy.

Brodicea · 10/10/2012 19:28

Thanks twofalls !

BigWitchLegsInWailyTights · 10/10/2012 19:34

Oh you have to be under 30! Sad

BigWitchLegsInWailyTights · 10/10/2012 19:35

I wish your friend a good recovery and all the good karma in the world to the man giving him some stem cells!

Original poster
GColdtimer · 10/10/2012 21:04

Thanks bigwitch, that's annoying. Try the other link i posted. It's the nhs register.

I think you can actually donate until you are 50 so once you are on the register you can stay on past the cut off date iykwim

Sorry, not making much sense. Very tired.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 10/10/2012 21:13

I'm signing up to Anthony Nolan just now but am confused by one of the questions, could someone help please?

"Ethnic Group. * Your ethnicity is the description that best describes your ancestors' origin. This will help identify a potential match. Note - this is not your nationality "

Right, so here's where the problem is. My Father and his side of the family were/are Scottish, there is a British/Irish option but my Mothers side was German...

What on earth do I put?

merlottits · 10/10/2012 21:15

My DH is on the register. I badger everyone I know, especially young men (no pregnancies cocking things up)

He very nearly wasn't. He went to a televised Anthony Nolan awareness drive, taking the local football team he manages. They all got tested.

When he got home he giggled to me that he hadn't gone through with it because he didn't like the look of the needles...

Well, I went ballistic. I called him all the fucking, shitting, wanker, cunty bastards, and called him a limp dicked sad muppet who, if he didn't go back the next day and get tested, would have his cowardice spread all over the local newspaper Grin

I'm not sure he knew QUITE how strongly I felt about it until then.

He went.

How anyone can not look at their sleeping children and just imagine what it would like to have to rely on the kindness of strangers...

Original poster
GColdtimer · 10/10/2012 21:21

Grin merlot

Schroeder, what are the options?? I can see that is a tough one.

OP posts:
BabylonPI · 10/10/2012 21:23

I registered just over 18 months ago Smile

SchrodingersMew · 10/10/2012 21:23

British/Irish
Central/Southern European
Eastern European
Scandanavian/Northern European

Stopiwanttogetoffpls · 10/10/2012 21:26

I'm giving blood for the first time in December, feeling a bit scared but i'm rhesus negative , so i know how important it is that i just get on and do it!!!:]

Stopiwanttogetoffpls · 10/10/2012 21:28

I'm giving blood for the first time in December, feeling a bit scared but i'm rhesus negative , so i know how important it is that i just get on and do it!!!:]

Stopiwanttogetoffpls · 10/10/2012 21:31

freelancescientist- was it hard to donate cells, was it very painful?
I think i might like to give it a try :)

VivaLeBeaver · 10/10/2012 21:33

My dad is having an MRI tomorrow to see if his tumors have shrunk enough for him to have stem cell transplant. I didn't realise stupidly though that you had to wait for a match. Sad. Just thought he'd be having it done. I am on the Antony Nolan register.

Two falls, I hope your friends transplant goes well.

DorsetKnob · 10/10/2012 21:36

I started a thread about this on Sunday, a friends DD has AML and is in need of a transplant, she has a 1 in 4 chance of her brother being a match, if not she will rely on donors. Anyone who donates is amazing, if you are too old then donate money to help with the matching.

Tangointhenight · 10/10/2012 21:39

My mum is 61 and still giving blood, she has donated 75 pints in her lifetime, I was always queasy about it but intend to start after being a pin cushion during pregnancy, got well used to it. What does being a stem cell donor involve?

Original poster
GColdtimer · 10/10/2012 21:42

SM, I think I would go for British/Irish. Is there a comments box?

Viva, so sorry about your dad. Fingers crossed all round

And to you Dorset. Really hope they find her a match. Sad

OP posts:
cogitosum · 10/10/2012 22:21

I think I will sign up or is it just men? Will ask DH as well. We're TTC at The moment - I assume I wouldn't be able to give whilst pregnant? Also I've not been able to give blood in the past as I have weird veins that they can never find. What are the chances of doing it once you've signed up?

cogitosum · 10/10/2012 22:22

Sorry just realised I've asked loads of questions in one post! I really want to join just don't want to waste their time by registering then not being able to give. I'm going to gp on Friday so may ask whilst I'm there. Will they be happy to answer questions at gp do you think?

AnyaKnowIt · 10/10/2012 22:29

I've been on the AN list for years, been called up once but I was pregnant at the time so couldn't do it Sad

QueenStromba · 10/10/2012 22:30

You have to be a blood donor to do it cogitosum - I can't do it because I have rubbish veins too.

SchrodingersMew · 10/10/2012 22:45

I ended up putting Central European, if they call I will explain to them.

Pictureperfect · 10/10/2012 23:01

AN cut off point is 40 BUT British bone arrow registry cut off mark is 60