Author |
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Deesandy
Member
08-12-2003
| Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 2:10 pm
I am going to a blood drive for a young woman who needs a bone marrow transplant. I have never given blood before and I am nervous. If I happened to be a marrow match, what would be expected of me? I intend to help inspite of my nervousness but would like more information. Thank you.
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Kaili
Member
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 2:22 pm
Giving blood isn't that bad. The anticipation is a lot worse than the actual event. I don't know how marrow transplants work, but from what I understand they can be painful. Here- this explains the marrow transplant for donors. National Marrow Donor Program MedLine Link Very nice of you to be so willing. 
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Kaili
Member
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 2:25 pm
Here's another little thing I found: If You Match... - If a preliminary match is determined, additional blood tests are taken to determine if you are a precise match for a patient. - If the match is perfect, special counselors will give you detailed information and answer your questions. A doctor will ensure you are in excellent health to donate. - After being fully informed, YOU MAKE THE DECISION to become a donor. You will only be giving 5% of your good stem cells and these all regenerate in a few weeks. After the procedure you may experience soreness, like if you fell on your butt when rollerblading. Most donors can carry on a daily routine almost immediately after the procedure. - The donated stem cell is immediately sent to the transplant center and infused into the waiting patient. LINK to a FAQ page about marrow donation.
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Sbw
Member
08-09-2000
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 8:13 am
Deesandy, have someone in the know explain the exact procedure and what you can expect and have them answer ALL your questions. If you know you cannot be a donor, don't put yourself on the registry. If someone is in need and you go through the final tests and then back out then weeks have been wasted (weeks that can be very precious to the person needing the transplant). However, if you think you are do it, put yourself on the list. I am on the list. I was tested a few years ago as a potential donor for my brother and when I was not a match I went through the steps to be placed on the registry. I know some people experience some hip pain if they take the marrow from there for a few days. But then again I know in my heart from my experience I could go through the pain for someone else to live without second thoughts. (Oh, I would probably gripe and whine all the time I was hurting, but in the end I would be happy I had done what I could. ) However, I know this approach is not for everyone and not everyone can do it. Make an informed decision. Read the stuff on the internet but talk to professionals who are in the know and can help you make an informed decision. It is important for you and potentially for others.
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Ryn
Moderator
08-11-2000
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 10:06 am
I have been on the registry for 10 years or so - have been a potential match twice - as someone said above there are several tests. here is how it has gone for me so far..... I signed up as I said maybe 10 years ago while just donating blood normally - they just took a couple extra vials and I filled out some paperwork. Said the odds of them ever contacting me again were 1-100. Wouldn't you know it about a year later they called me and I was an initial match with someone so they needed me to come in to draw blood again to do some further tests. The tests are expensive so they only do them when you have matched to a certain point. As it turned out those additional tests showed I would not match the person needing the donation so that was that. Then about a year ago I got a call again, they obviously had my detailed info from my last potential match and I had made it to the next level with someone else so they needed me to come in yet again for another blood sample. I was told if I passed those tests that I would probably be one of two people to make the final cut and would probably be asked to actually donate. Alas I didn't make that final cut - but if they ever call again chances are it will be to ask me to actually donate or have a physical because they still have the results of my previous tests to use when looking for donors. The odds of you matching the person you are going to the drive for are one in millions - but you might match someone else and it would be a wonderful thing to help save someone's life. Even donating blood is a great gift so be proud for doing it!!! I'm working on gallon #5 myself 
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Cathie
Member
08-16-2000
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 11:43 am
I have been on the registry for years and never been contacted as a potential match. I originally signed up when my brother's wife needed a transplant, and wasn't able to help her, but hope that someday I will be able to help someone. I give platelets a couple of times a month; I am apparently loaded with platelets so they call me often for that.
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Deesandy
Member
08-12-2003
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 11:48 am
Not to sound stupid but...what is platelets? Something in blood?
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Ryn
Moderator
08-11-2000
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 2:15 pm
Platelets are a part of the blood that help in clotting. Your blood is made up of Plasma, White Blood Cells (Fight infection, etc), Red Blood Cells (Carry oxygen), and Platlets (Help in clotting). People that donate Platelts and Plasma can do so more often because they are not as crucial as red blood cells are. When you donate either of these you generally have 2 needles - one removing the blood which goes into a sort of filter and then another that returns whatever is not being collected to your body. Blood is simply a one-needle method so your body needs time to recover. 
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 2:18 pm
Deesandy: Yes, platelets are in blood plasma - I think their main function is to promote clotting but am not positive about that. Bless you for doing this! Edited to add: Sorry, I guess Ryn already answered your question! It takes me so long to post sometimes. Darn work, lol.
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Ryn
Moderator
08-11-2000
| Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 2:25 pm

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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 2:15 am
I've been in the registry for years and not a nibble.. and after my knee surgery in October, I found out that I cannot give blood for a year, because I had a graft of cadaver bone.. I called the marrow registry and sure enough, can't even be considered until next October.. so I had them make me inactive for that time. I don't have much time left to donate but if I actually match someone, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
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Racsan
Member
04-09-2004
| Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 6:09 am
"I don't have much time left to donate but if I actually match someone, I'd do it in a heartbeat." There's a time frame on when you can donate?
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Friday, July 02, 2004 - 11:58 pm
Yeah, I think you can't be over 60 years old. Used to be down in the fifties..
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Cathie
Member
08-16-2000
| Monday, November 15, 2004 - 9:26 pm
My SIL was on the waiting list for over a year for a bone marrow transplant in 2001. They couldn't find a match but finally did a procedure taking her own bone marrow and "purifying" it and replacing it into her body. It was not expected to be as good as a transplant from another person, but was all they could offer (she was adopted and has no known sibs.) Her leukemia came back this summer and they were expecting the worst this time. But, thanks to the people who have signed up for the registry in the last few years they have found 2 perfect matches for her. Both are in their 20s and are willing to donate, so as soon as her counts are up a bit she will finally get her "real" transplant!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, November 15, 2004 - 9:59 pm
OMG, Cathie!! I'll be sending strong vibes that she gets her counts up really soon and that you will keep us informed about the transplant. Since I posted last, I passed my year since my bone grft thing and went over to Red Cross.. I didn't get to donate that day; my hematocrit was one point too low, but I took iron and ate red meat and came back and did my first platelet donation!! And I found a message on my machine today.. I'll call up and probably schedule to give them again after I return from Thanksgiving up north at my brother's.. Cathie, this really shows that the drives to get more people to sign up do help if someone can now get a match.
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Sbw
Member
08-09-2000
| Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 5:35 pm
Yea, Cathie. I am so happy for your SIL.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 2:05 am
I called the bone marrow registry this week to be sure they had reactivated me since I passed a year since my bone graft and I'm reactivated. I asked them about the maximum age to be a donor and was told that they automatically take you off the list on your 61st birthday.
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