Donating Bone Marrow

RIP

I have no idea but pls update this thread after you’ve donated. I registered on bethematch 15 years ago too but never been called.

how much are they paying you?

Good for you! What an amazing gift you can offer to those in need.

Your post really has me thinking about many things, philosophically.

I have no insights, other than, you are have no obligation to attempt to help this stranger.

Your morals will inform your decisions.

I will pray for you.

I will not sleep for a while now, pondering myself walking in your shoes.

ETA
*Stem cells not bone marrow
They try stem cells first, depending on patient, they said if it didn’t take I may be contacted for bone marrow

I did it in 2018

IIRC
First thing I had to do was additional bloodwork, they set it up somewhere local / convenient & cover everything
Once that’s done & confirmed you have more testing
They paid for me to fly to Houston, did more bloodwork, ekg, chest x ray & physical
Flew home same night
They paid for airfare & gave me Uber codes for transportation

Once everything is cleared / scheduled they ship you shots & everything needed to report back to them
1st one has to be done at a Dr or Urgent Care, friend is a nurse, she was able to turn in her license & info & was approved to give me remainder
This is also point of no return, if you back out after they are upfront that you match will likely pass
While the shots boost stem cells the match is also preparing & I think it wipes out their immune system so without transplant they die

They pay for airfare & hotel for you & someone else for the donation
They also cover food, dog boarding, child care, the vitamins they need you to take…as long as you turn in receipts (I didn’t)
They also took out a million dollar life insurance policy on me in my parents name in the event something happened

The worst part is the shots
The first couple of days are fine, then the aches start & I felt crappy but nothing awful
After that if I stood a certain way or leaned to brush my teeth I’d have this weird body spasm, it’s hard to explain but it sucked but it only happened a few times
Basically all your bones hurt & you are uncomfortable

Flew there afternoon before donation
Got up next morning, ate breakfast (they tell you to drink a lot of water) & walked to donation center
They do bloodwork, based on the amount of stem cells it tells them how long it will take
I was done in about 4 hours

I have a very high pain tolerance, she said a lot of people are in tears due to the shots

They draw out of one arm & it goes back in other
They want you to drink plenty but there is no way to pee when you can’t move one arm at all & the other is also hooked up to tubes

After you’re done they make you wait 20 minutes or so to make sure you’re ok then you leave

It was odd with the different employees coming up & saying thanks, it didn’t seem like it was a big deal until while waiting the last few minutes the lady passed by with a small igloo ice chest to go meet transport person, I guess seeing them sending it off so quickly hit me that it was important

Went back to hotel, napped then went out to eat
Flew home next morning
Within 2 days there was no more uncomfortable bone pain

They follow up with you weekly then monthly then yearly

I received a card from my match, she is an older woman in her 60’s
There were a few spots marked out on her card, they make sure nothing identifying gets through
At last update, about 8 months ago she is still alive

If you have questions email my username at yahoo

quote:

---

lady passed by with a small igloo ice chest

---

How come they don’t use a yeti?

quote:

---

bone marrow transplant.

---

My dad had multiple myeloma in his late 60’s. Ochsner wanted to do a bone marrow transplant, but he opted for a clinical trial medicine instead based on his bone barrow. That helped, he went into remission.

Now I am wondering if in the next 20.30 years will I have to worry about this cancer. If so, can some of my bone marrow be saved for when I may need it in the future?

quote:

---

LSUJML

---

Maybe a dumb question but do you get paid for the donation? Aside from them covering your transportation and all.

You have the opportunity to save someone's life, and will be proud to have done it for the rest of yours. Impact not only them but their entire family and friends.

My father died from leukemia in his 40s. He was a candidate for transplant and had a brother donor but did not get well enough to undergo the procedure. My little sister was still in elementary school. I have been a registered donor for decades but have never gotten the call.

Do it, and God bless you.