Ok Ladies lets do something worthwhile today - who wants to join me and register with the Anthony Nolan Trust to be a potential Bone Marrow Donor.

[sparkleymummy]

Its an easy process and could save a life. Please have a look at the website www.anthonynolan.org.uk

Lets see if we can make a difference

I'm on it through blood donor thingy. Which reminds me I haven't given blood since I got pregnant with DS (three years) . Will make an appointment.

Am registered with Anthony Nolan - have been for years. They always really really need males and 'ethnic minorities' by which I think they meant Indian sub continent and eastern European plus others.

My dd2's birthday is 22nd Jan Chegirl. She will be one. We will remember your baby on the day. I'm very sorry she had to go. x

Thank you tree.

My earlier post was wrong. Apparently anyone between 18 and 49 can register with the National Blood Service, you can request more info here.

Sorry to hear about your loss chegirl, I was just talking to DH (who can give blood) assuming that they asked blood donors routinely if they wanted to be on the register. Apparently not, which is a wasted opportunity to my mind. As with organ donation, one can only hope that this desperate search process becomes a thing of the past one day.

Thanks to everyone who has signed up/bumped so far!

I received a copy of Leukaemia Care magazine today and there was an article in it written by a fellow who had donated his bone marrow. He did say it was an overwhelming experience - his bone marrow was removed under general anaesthetic, quite sore for about a week. He had to take growth hormone tablets for 5 days previous to bone marrow removal and at the same time the recipient had 5 days of intensive chemo to kill the white cells, so it was very important that the donor didn't change his mind during this time as the recipient was reliant on receiving the matched bone marrow, without which he wouldn't survive.

there was a huge post back in March when my husband was told he had cancer

here MN do some wonderful things,

if anyone hasnt signed up yet, please do

Fab work being done by the ACLT to encourage black donors

Hi,

What a great thread!
All those who've not signed up DO IT!!!! You can save a life, and I know cause I'm having a transplant at the moment, stuck in hospital, but my life is going to be saved by an umbilical cord blood transplant. There were no matches for me with adult donors, so the more people sign up the more lives will be saved.

Sorry for intense post, but spread the word! Before I was admitted I held a donor recruitment session and got 100 more people to sign up, it's really easy to join, and the stem cell donation with the newer technique makes collection easier.

Sorry, I'll stop ranting now!!

B xx

I really wanted to do a recruitment event in honour of DD's 18th birthday in Jan. Unfortunately I have had no response from AN, Blood Service or ACLT .

can't donate- used to give blood pre diagnosis with M.S but they don't let me now.
Had to have a blood transfusion after dd2 was born and DH promised to give blood 'in return' iyswim.

What does bone marrow donation entail? I'll try to get him to register.

Happy to do any sponsored running of under 20kms in London/surrey/middlesex if you find any chegirl

Hi Girls. I have done the women's challenge for Clic Sargent a few times. YOu can choose your charity which is why I prefer it to the run for life. Its 5k. I think its usually in September. Its round Hyde park so quite an easy one

I may do it next year but baby due in April so might be pushing it!

Ok will try to do that one then- unless I'm pregnant myself by then that is..

Fingers crossed Girls

I did it whilst pg one year. I walked of course

I can't even register as i don't weigh enough (can't give blood either) but will email friends

I agree that you should be asked automatically when you give blood, because I kept forgetting to ask about it. When I did remember, though, I was tutted at for giving the Blood Donation Clinic more paper work. They did it, but with very bad grace. Unfortunately I didn't get round to complaining.

jeee my dh applied to join the bone marrow donor register last year, but was very surprised at how hard they made it for him to do so.

We had heard that they were particularly looking for male donors from different ethnic backgrounds and as my dh is Indian we thought that they would be snapping his hand off but we were passed from pillar to post by the Blood Tranfusion folk.
In the end, after chasing them for weeks, he was called to a regular blood donor session and despite trying to follow it up, we are still not sure if he is on the Bone Marrow Donor register. It has made me feel very concerned about the system tbh as I'm sure there are many people who wouldn't be prepared to fight to try and get on the Register like my dh had to { and still isn't sure he is on it !}