I sent off my registration to become a bone marrow donor today....

[GoldenSnitch]

It was really easy.

I requested a registration pack here and they sent me a form to fill in. I returned that and then they sent me a kit to collect a saliva sample which is what I've posted off this morning. All it took was spitting in a little tube!

I admit that the thought of the process of donating the Bone Marrow scares me a little - but it's not half as much as the thought of someone I love needing a transplant and not being able to have one because the potential donor was too scared to register!

I guess If I'd want someone else to donate for me or my loved one, I really have to be prepared to donate myself.

So I've registered - will you?

Have been thinking about this for years but you have spurred me on - have requested a pack. I know it's mostly men they want but you never know.

I just filled out my application form last night - need to remember to post it when I go out. I'm trying to persuade DH but he seems reluctant.

Men and ethnic minorities are what's most needed but I'm sure anyone registering is appreciated.

I found this on the site that explains why men are so needed...

"Why we need more males

The Register includes men and women from 18 to 60, but we need more young men, aged between 18 and 40!

Currently only 42% of potential donors on our Register are men - yet men supply 75% of actual donations.

If there is a choice of matching donors for a patient, in most cases, the transplant centre will prefer a male donor.

Why? Because??

• men are generally able to provide more of the vital cells, which help patients to engraft more quickly
• men are statistically less likely to suffer from anaemia - a condition that prevents someone from donating
• women are ineligible to donate for two years around pregnancy, making men, in general, more available. Many patients simply do not have this time to wait for a transplant
• evidence suggests that cells provided by female donors after pregnancy may have a higher incidence of graft versus host disease (GvHD).

In all probability (and we are talking statistically about the population as a whole), younger people will be healthier. Studies also associate younger donors with slightly better overall survival rates for patients.

We need more young, male donors."

I'm working on getting my DH to register too.

I had my youngest child just 13 weeks ago but put this on the form and they still accepted my application so I guess you don't have to wait till 2 years after a pregnancy to register.

My OH donated bone marrow in 2008 - he gave stem cells so had 3 days of injections then went to London and sat plugged in to a machine for a day, then we came home. That was it....not much to give someone their life back is it?

I'm a bit jealous TBH - I've been on the register as long as he has, but he got 'chosen'!!