Would you save a strangers life by giving a bone marrow transplant?
By meeoww
@meeoww (1174)
United States
November 23, 2006 5:30pm CST
There are people all over the world with blood diseases such as leukemia or other blood cancers or disorders, whose lives may be saved with a bone marrow transplant. The best chance for a good tissue match is within the person's own family, however, 70% of those affected do not have a matching donor within their family. The National Marrow Donor Program keeps on file thousands of records of dedicated donors, to be searched when the need arises for patients worldwide. You can find out more at www.nmdp.org. Since the next best chance to find a tissue match is within one's own ethnicity, the chances of finding a match are between only 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 1 million. I am registered with Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M). www.asianmarrow.org Unfortunately, of the 5 million donors listed on the national registry, only 8% are Asian/Pacific Islanders. There are marrow donor registries in several countries, so I encourage all of the myLot community to find the courage to be a donor and to search to find a marrow donor program that they can register with. The NMDP is a good place to start. You might save a life one day!
2 people like this
9 responses
@sankethadiga (1087)
• India
30 Nov 06
Hello, nice to see people being associated with good causes, I too would like to help somebody and what better way to be at with yourself than to know that you helped in saving a life.
Thankyou, I'll definitely enlist myself.
Good day to you.
2 people like this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
1 Dec 06
Hi sankethadiga! Yes, alot of people would like to contribute to a good cause but don't know where to start. After all, there are so many good causes. I just found a great site for people to find marrow donor registries all over the world, at http://www.bmdw.org/index.php?id=addresses
Also, if donating marrow is too scary sounding for someone, they can also help by signing up at www.myindianplace.com, and this will help A3M also! Create a profile on myindianplace.com and A3M will receive a donation. You don't have to be Indian to sign up. Please be sure to use "A3M" when asked for the referral code. Thanks for your interest! Aloha!
1 person likes this
@heartonfire (4119)
• Denmark
10 Jan 07
hmmmm,tough question....usually,these kind of procedures are complicated and risky and you only feel the need to do it when it's one of your loved persons in that situation....but for a stranger,i am not so sure...at least,i am honest:)
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Hi there, heartonfire! For the donors, I don't know that I've heard that it's risky, but definitely that it's painful. And I hear that you're sore for days! It's great that you're honest! Granted, just because you register doesn't mean you have no choice if you are called, but it's always best to be honest beforehand about making such type of a comittment. Thanks for your input! Aloha!!
@tigrashadow (1086)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
a friend of mine got everyone he knew to try and join the bone marrow register (which i did) as his sister had leukemia...unfortunately he also got it a couple of years after she passed and was just about to get out of his last chemo before going for bone marrow transplant with a donor.He didnt make it for the transplant....its not the most comfortable thing to do apparently but if i can give someone another chance at fighting this horrible disease then im all for it...
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I'm so sorry to hear of your friend and his sister. His must have advanced very rapidly since he was just about to finish chemo. For some, the search for a match, and then for a willing donor, can seem so hopeless. Thank you for being willing to "be there" for someone. Aloha!
@zakhir (50)
• Mauritius
10 Jan 07
Thats a very laudable initiative, i'm very glad you started this discussion. I've donated blood several times before but nothing else apart from blood. I'll definitely register myself on the website you mentioned. Thanks a lot. Plz let us know of any other good cause you know about, ok. Thanks. I visit these two websites from time to time, so you can have a look too: www.redjellyfish.com and www.care2.com
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Awesome! I'm glad that you'd like to add your name to the registry. I've been listed for a long time, but no call yet. They won't let me donate blood or platelets because I don't weigh enough. Not that I'm unhealthy, mind you, but just because they require that you weigh something like 110 pounds. I'm just under 5ft tall, and 110 actually would be unhealthy for me. I will check out those sites that you listed. Thanks for joining! Aloha!
@gyasitaylor (150)
• United States
1 Dec 06
I'm not sure about going through surgery to save a strangers life. It's not like giving blood right? It's a serious and complicated procedure. I just don't know...Prob not. I hope you don't think I'm a bad person
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
2 Dec 06
You're right, it's more than giving blood (which they won't let me do, actually, because I don't weigh enough - get that!). And, no, that doesn't make you a bad person. We all have our ideal ways of giving to humanity. If you check my reply in #2, though, you'll see another FREE (and painless!!) way to help the cause! Thanks for your response!! Aloha!
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
17 Jan 07
It's something I would consider. But I'd have to find out more about how painful or time consuming it is, if there are many potential complications, etc. But yes I'd consider it, because recipients can have a very tough time finding a good match.
1 person likes this
@Anakata2007 (1785)
• Canada
24 Mar 07
I want to do it and keep putting it off. I know I have no excuse. Reading this will make me call about it on Monday. Thanks
