Bone marrow transplant ?

[hadassahchana[$]]

I need info on being a bone marrow donor. I just got the call from the Red Cross, and I am a good match for a patient. I go in Monday for follow-up blood work, and if it shows me as being as good a match as they think, I will be a marrow donor.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

An acquaintance of mine did that. She said she felt very good about helping out the recipient (a 9-year-old boy), but that she found it was more painful than she expected and that it took longer to recover than she expected. But there's a teenaged boy alive now because of her donation.

[theworm[$]]

I love you!
Being a bone marrow donor is supposed to be a bit painful. I always thought that it might be something I would do, though I think I'm no longer elligible to be a blood/organ/body part donor.

Get lots of info before you make a decision. Know what kind of pain and recovery to expect. Also check with your doctor. You've had issues since your accident - make sure you get an ok from your doctor before doing anything.

[emeleel]

Wow, that's exciting! A little scary, too, I guess? What a wonderful opportunity.

[mtomm[$]]

Wow! What a life you lead.
My understanding is the same as the others posted, painful and does require some recovery time. But what an awesome opportunity.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Kevin and I both registered several years ago. A man in our community was very ill, and everyone was tested in the hopes of finding a donor. Sadly, he died, but we all agreed to remain in the registry.

Kevin died four years ago (today ) and last year, I got an emergency call at 5 in the morning - he was a perfect match to a baby, only 18 months old. I cried for days. Now, it seems I might get a chance to help someone.

And yes, I am scared. I'm surprised at that reaction, I didn't think I would be. Prayers, please, that I am a good match. I know they don't get transplants for people who don't need them- that family must be going through hell.

[theworm[$]]

Cindy, I think its a beautiful thing that you want to do, and if you decide to do this that's great, but if you decide not to or if you can't that's fine.
You are a single mom and you have your own challenges to deal with. Before thinking of the other family, you need to check with your doctor - who knows your history - and make sure that he/she is ok with it. Then you have to realistically decide if you can and want to handle the pain and recovery.

Yes, that family is going through a lot and if you can help it will be a wonderful thing to do for them, but if you can't, it doesn't say anything negative about you. The fact that you want to help says a lot.

Today is an emotional day for you and the boys.

This is a wonderful thing and I hope you can help this patient and his/her family, but before you make a decision, make sure to get an ok from a doctor and a FULL understanding of what to expect and how long to expect the recovery to be.

Like you, I would undergo some discomfort to help save a life, but get the ok from your doc first and then make sure that you and your family are ready for this.

And big to you for being who you are!!!

[jenninca]

Oh my goodness! You are a better person than I am, Cindy.

I don't know much about it, but I'll echo what the others have said: know what you're getting into, and make sure to check things out thoroughly with your doctor first!

[mtomm[$]]

Our neighbor's son had aplastic anemia. He was lucky because his sister was a match. He is alive and well today. Out of the 7 children in the hospital with him who needed transplants he is the only one alive today.

Finding a match is so important.

[lynnzop[$]]

Oh Cindy. Everything that everyone else has said. for you and for the boys.

And you are one brave lady. I'm marked as an organ donor and my family is well aware of my choice, but there's no "recovery" from that. To give a live donation, and one that will cause you pain and recovery time are truly a gift of life.

[cristina1]

:hugs: You are a very special person, Cindy. But please heed Wormie's advice and get the okay from your doctor.

[MiracleMax]

Ditto what everybody else said. I do hope you're healthy enough to help though, you're such a wonderful person for wanting to do this!

[taurusmoon]

Cindy, you're awesome.

But, definitely heed Wormie's advice and discuss this with your doctor in detail.

[jgibson2[$]]

Cindy,
Have you seen the information for donors on Marrow.org?

It should answer most of your questions. The collection is done under general anesthesia and many donors get a transfusion of blood they've donated ahead of time for that purpose.

There will be more testing done, of course, and you won't be donating unless you're pretty much the ideal donor for this patient. It's a very generous thing you are doing, and I wish I was still eligible to donate. I'd be scared too, but I have a friend whose son is alive today because of a generous bone marrow donor.

BTW, the family may have been told that there is a POTENTIAL donor, but now while they're doing the testing is the time to make your decision about whether or not you can actually go through with this. If you cannot, for whatever reason, the family will only be told that it didn't work out.

[hadassahchana[$]]

I just looked at the health requirements, and fortunately, the antiseizure meds do not disqualify me. I was worried about that, but it's ok. It does look like I might need to lose a few pounds, but thats just more incentive to do something I should be doing, and in fact am doing, anyway.

This is going to sound pissy, but how much does it hurt? It won't change my mind about doing it, but I want to know. When I had my tubal ligation, I was told it was so minor I could go back to work the next day. That was so totally not true- it was a really hard recovery. I just wanted to know ahead of time, know what I mean?

[theworm[$]]

maybe some of the people who know folks who have had it done can give you specific answers, but my impression is that it's not like a boo boo. It's a significant amount of discomfort - not forever, but its going to hurt.

[jgibson2[$]]

They stick multiple large-bore needles into your pelvic bones (in the back). It's got to hurt afterwards, probably along the lines of a bone-marrow biopsy, but with multiple needles instead of only one.

[pippadaisy[$]]

I had no idea they did it under general! That's way better... I thought you were awake when they did it.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Pippa, how do I feel about being awake for anything? Remember- don't show me the drill/needle thingy, and give me my general!

[pippadaisy[$]]

No... I mean I thought you were awake with nothing but a local for it. A la lumbar puncture.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

My friend was out with general anesthesia. It was the pain afterward that she complained about.

[hadassahchana[$]]

I found one website which described the procedure using only a local. Eww. I might not be able to run, but I could drag myself by my arms. Nope, I need to be unconscious. That's how it is done in the States, from everything I've read.