*Please help save my friend's life*

[monica2]

I have some very good friends who have two young children, one with autism, their Dad is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. Could you consider donating your bone marrow? If you are aged between 18-40 and in good health, weigh over 8 stone and willing to help any patient, (the more donors, the more chance he has of finding a match).

Please join the anthony nolan trust

It involves a short questionnaire and small blood sample from G.P. If chosen as a match the procedure is a general anaesthetic to remove marrow, the trust pays all expenses/loss of earnings during the few days recovery period.

If anyone is in the Brighton/surrounding areas there is a donor clinic in Hove on Tues 20th Sept inspired by my friend. Please cat me for more info

I've been meaning to do this for a long time, I will do it, but can I do this now as I'm 25 weeks pregnant?
Wishing your friend all the luck in getting a doner.

what's involved in donating? Is it a GA (I'm a wimp but have a complete phobia of them)

If chosen as a match, the donor has the choice of donating blood stem cells either from the bloodstream (think this is similar to noraml blood donation) or from the bone marrow, which is removed under GA. The trust is in particular need of young donors, males and donors from ethnic minority groups, so please ask around.

cant do it till about 9months after giving birth i think, if its the same citeria as giving blood. both of which are on my to do list. (baby is only just 7months old)

Oh, the criteria are far more stringent than giving blood, Misdee. There is a lost of exceptions hidden on the website linked to at the start.

Medical exceptions here

i joind the ANT when friends needed a transplant.

Yeah I tried to give blood when I was about 12 ish weeks and was turned away so i thought the BM miht be the same deal. I really have been meaning to do this though so will get round to it middle of 2006, sorry I can't do anything sooner in case I was a match monica2

thats very strict guidelines, looks like imay not be able to help.

Sorry can't donate, but I have passed link to everyone on my email list.

I'm a regular blood donor and am on the bone marrow register too, if I were a match I wouldn't hesitate to help, haven't had a phone call so guess that I'm not.

But thoughts and prayers are with the family, I hope it all works out right in the end.

xxxx

I can not believe that I am at 41 too old to do this why I am very heathly fit non smoker and regular exerciser -- I am at the point in my life where I want to help others... but can't... bizarre and frustrating.. hope it works for you...

blimey I thought I was healthy, but apart from the recent pregnancy thing have 2 other exceptions.

I was on this years ago!! wonder if I am still on it? I joined way back when it was set up I think!!!

Have signed dh up for a pack to join the register, would do it myself but am pg. Hope your friend finds a match soon.

I can't because I am too old

I am still a blood donor though.

Wishing your friends dh all best wishes and hpe that there is a match soon

(Thank god dh has a match...so far not needed, in one of his brothers)

Thanks for all your thoughts, please tell/email as many people as possible, read more about him here

Oh dear Monica, sorry to read this. I can't be a donor unfortunately, I'm a sicko who takes drugs! Oh, just seen I'm too old, boo hoo. Hope it gets sorted.