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!

You could call them cog, they are very helpful. You don't have to be a blood donor to sign up to the register.

Don't delay - join today!!!

Amazing to read this thread and feel the support and warmth from everyone surrounding this subject - none of us know when we may need the help of the AN or the blood bank. But chances are that throughout your life, a loved one or someone you know will need it.

Firstly, twofalls, I wish your friend the very best as they start their treatment ..... I know very well how stressful/emotional/draining/difficult it can be!

My DS was diagnosed with a life threatening blood disorder when he was just 6 weeks old. A disorder that affects one in a million children per year! I won't go into all the details a) because I won't be able to see to type and b) because, we'll its just too painful! But, were it not for the lovely German lady who during the summer of 2005 decided to join the register ..... Well, quite frankly my son would not be here today. I, as many others do, assumed that there would be a match for my son somewhere ..... But initial results came back and there wasn't a single match in the whole world! My DS was extremely poorly and without a BMT he didn't have long to live . Randomly, one day, a lady in Germany joined just at the right time and was a perfect match! Doesn't bear thinking about had she not decided to join that day, or even that week, that month! She was our only hope! And although we nearly lost him on several occasions, he is now a very happy and healthy 7 yr old boy! I can't imagine a better gift to give than the gift of life. Words are not enough to thank that wonderful stranger in Germany for what she has done for my family (see, I'm in tears already!)

I believe that they have devised a new way for the donor to donate bone marrow that is less intrusive and less painful. I can't remember exactly what it is but I know they have recently done something. It is an incredibly rare thing to be a perfect match for someone else as there are so many variations. To all those who are on the register, thank you for your generosity and some day I hope that you will be a match and be the one to give life to someone else. To all those who are thinking about it - don't delay!!!! There could be a baby, like my DS lying in hospital somewhere and a family in despair believing that there is no hope because there is no match.

I'm sorry if I've gone on but I hope you appreciate how close to my heart this subject is. All my family either give blood or are on the register now. I admire anyone who joins up, really I do.

My thoughts and best wishes go to everyone who has a loved one going through his treatment x

I'm on the register for that too, and because of having more than usual amounts of blood, I can donate blood every week. My sister underwent a kidney transplant, countless blood transfusions etc; and though she died, this is my way of saying thank you. I donated a kidney for her, but it was rejected a bit after the operation, so someone else was kind enough to donate to her.

My DH has had a few stem cell transplants too. Unfortunately it isn't going to help with the cancer, but I'll always be grateful for whoever gave those.

Finally, my nephew. I've had a lot of my family affected my cancer. In this case, he was just five. He received a heart transplant after developing cardiomypathy when the cancer weakened his heart muscles. Please sign up to donate organs etc; after you die too, donating eyes/retinas means people can get some sight back, donating skin means someone scarred or damaged in something like a crash or a firework accident can look 'human', donating livers, lungs, kidneys can save someone's life- when you die at least you can help someone survive.

Oopsy - you are truely an amazing woman!!

I'm due to give blood again on Tuesday but I have a 5 month old baby. Does that mean I won't be able to this time?

Current guidelines are that you won't be able to give blood if you've had a baby within the last 6 months . Next time. Don't be disheartened, you do something AMAZING its just that your body needs to recover just now x

You do have to be a blood donor twofalls.

"How can I join the register?

You must be aged between 18 and 49 years old (registered before your 50th birthday) and be a blood donor. You can join when you next give blood, or at the same time as your first donation. We will check that there is no medical reason preventing you from being both a blood donor and a stem cell donor. At the time of your blood donation we will take an extra blood sample, so that we can identify your tissue type for the registry from your DNA - the genetic material our bodies are made up from. Please inform the staff at the blood donation session that you wish to join the BBMR before your blood donation is taken."

From www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/qa/

I'm too old! Too old at 35.

Link above says under 49.

Ah, I was entering my details on the Anthony Nolan website, Will try with the NHS.

Sorry, squoosh I was thinking of Anthony Nolan.

So to clarify, AN you can join until you are 30 (used to be 40 or i wouldn't have got on!))

NHS Register, you hve to already be giving bloody but you can join until you are 49.

and Iamtheonlyone, thank you so much for your fantastic post and I am so glad your DS is now a lively 7 year old. My friend also has a 7 year old DS and a 6 month old DS) he has to get better for them

And oopsy, a great big hug to you. Have seen a few of you around on a few threads recently.

Thanks for this thread, I have just looked at the Anthony Nolan trust and I look like I'm too heavy currently to be on the register, however I am pregnant and I never knew that I could donate the umbilical cord and placenta for stem cells, I will be doing this as it will be just thrown away as waste otherwise.

I used to give blood but dont have enough to spare these days (anaemia)
Too old for BM
But definitely on organ transplant as a liver could have saved my sister form dying at 50 and leaving 4 children behind.

Bugger - can only do it at certain hospitals, although I have juct checked my BMI and I am just under the cut off so have registered fully.

Have just asked DH and donating stem cells wasn't painful - I think the worst he had was a numb bum from sitting still for 5 hours. I was with him and waited on him hand and foot!
We've both been on the register for about 20 years, after a friend's sister needed a donor to try and cure her leukaemia. He was called once then it was called off, then recalled again a couple of years later (turns out it was for the same patient). When they call you they send another load of tubes for blood tests for closer matching then go to London for a medical.
I still feel jealous that he got 'picked' and I didn't!

Thanks freelance, that is good to hear. Just spoken to my friend who is taking things one day at a time.

I'd love to help but am too old for AN and can't give blood after having transfusions (11 pints) after seriously eclampsia-related birth with DD. I've donated religiously since I was 18 and am really sad I can't do this anymore. I make up for it in a small way by badgering DH (willing but v forgetful) to do it every 12 weeks, and always get him to check if they are changing the regulations (they always say they are thinking about it). I think he is on the BM register but will get him to double-check next time.

This anonymous donor is amazing, but at the same time he is being given an amazing opportunity to do such a wonderful thing at such a small cost to himself. Knowing you had helped to save someone's life must keep you feeling warm and fuzzy forever!

Ah, don't feel sad. You did an amazing thing for so long