I'm a potential bone marrow match!

missmercy · Apr 29, 2004

Wow, I just went to that link to find out how to sign up and they want $65-100 from the potantial donor to do the tissue typing! WTH are they thinking? donors do not benefit from getting stuck with that needle or filling out all the paperwork- do we get a cut of the fee if we match??? What jerks.
I am sending them a rude email. JERKS.

I know it seems like a real pain to have to apay for the tissue testing etc..... However, we lost a dear friend due to a lack of a match - :crying2: - I would gladly put the money out knowing it will save someone else that pain! Research is expensive, the red cross and other organizations have had to make serious budget cuts, things are tight everywhere..... the patients who NEED the bone marrow are already spending megabucks in health care costs....

Guess I can understand why they might be asking for funding -- wish they could avaoid it because it OBVIOUSLY turns some people off.... FORTUNATELY, there are some folks who are willing not only to give marrow, but money too......God bless those generous souls!

missmercy · Apr 29, 2004

I had went to a bone marrow drive back in 1998, and I got a call yesterday saying there is a 38 year old woman with Hodgkin's Lymphoma who looks like a preliminary match. They asked for consent to do further testing on my blood,which I gave. If that checks out, I will have a physical and more blood drawn. If everything matches up and looks good, I will donate marrow (or stem cells) anywhere from 2 to 4 months. I guess some people would think I'm crazy for being excited at the possibility of having a needle put into my bone to help a perfect stranger, but I am excited at the idea of helping someone with cancer. Has anyone gone through this or known someone who did? If so,input please! Thank you! Tonya

SOOOOOO Proud of you!!! Congratulations on the possibility of being able to save a life!!! Wish there were millions like you!! Thanks you for caring, for following through and for giving of yourself -- literally!!!! You are a real hero in my book!!:) God bless you -- LOTS!!!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2004

What a beautiful gift to give someone. Kudos to you!

Energizer Bunny · Apr 29, 2004

I sure can't afford to give out money to help anyone right now, so I guess I'll have to wait to be put on the registry. I can't even pay my own bills.....*sigh* too bad that they have to add paying money out to the equation.

cannoli · Apr 29, 2004

A sibling had bone marrow cancer, it was because of that that I got on the registry, though I had been thinking about it for years before that. Sibling did not want a transplant and died about 15 months after diagnosis.

I did it through the American Red Cross, and it would have cost me except that I gave an aphoresis donation x 2, (platelets) and the fee was waived because of the donation. I would think they would probably still do that as they need platelet donors.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 29, 2004

i'm always donating blood so I'll ask them the next time I go.

PennyLane, RN · Apr 29, 2004

What a beautiful gift to give someone. My sister died of Hodgkin's two years ago, she had a transplant of her own marrow--I wasn't a match.

Loving Life · Apr 30, 2004

The hospital I work at had a free marrow drive for the first 50 people. I took advantage of that. I work at a children's hospital bone marrow transplant/heme-onc floor. It is a great thing that you are doing. I see these families holding on to every thing they can. A transplant is usually the last hope. Many times it works and other times not. But these families are desperate. You have the chance to actually help save a life. Thank you.

nurseunderwater · Apr 30, 2004

i understand your excitement...I don't think it's odd at all. Crossing my fingers that it all comes to bear. Good luck and :balloons: to you. thanks for being a part of something magical...Kate

J_W, DNP, APRN, CNS · Apr 30, 2004

That is great...It is a special gift...It is not exactly the same, but I gave my brother a kidney in Sept. 2002. To me it was no big deal and is still not, I know to some people think it is a big deal. But I never gave it a second thought, even while I was in the holding area with my brother...They took him back, and about 45 minutes later they took me back...I never even thought about the complications or risks...Never, I really didn't, I mean I knew them and understood them, but I just never really gave them any thought...Anyhow....You are doing a wonderful thing and giving a person (stranger) another chance at life....Good for you....

renerian, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

I have been on the registry for 4 years and no calls. I hear I would be a hard matched based on my make up.

Good luck and keep us posted!

renerian

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 30, 2004

I would be happy to donate marrow, or a kidney, or a liver lobe, if someone needed it. but dammed if I am going to pay someone for the privilege to do it. Not when hospitals are makeing millions of dollars in profit off of sick patients that get the procedures. Let THEM recruit donors, and have a computerized match. Or better yet, pay double to the charitable organization that found a donor.

To restate; JERKS