TGIF: Donating Stem Cells
Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:46PM For a while, my Friday posts were labeled “TGIF”. I would either list reasons why I was glad the week was over, or share a story about something for which I was thankful.
Today, I am very thankful that everyone in my family is healthy. I am also thankful that I was in a position to make a difference in someone's life...and can actually witness the results. It's a humbling gift to be given.
We received very good news today. I mentioned in the 10 Random Facts About TheMommy post that I recently donated peripheral blood stem cells to a 21 year old woman with leukemia. I promise I will follow up with a more detailed post sometime soon. It was an incredible experience on so many different levels.
My donor coordinator from Dana Farber just emailed me to let me know that the transplant was successful. The woman is doing well and proceeding as expected. Even better, she was discharged from the hospital awhile ago.
I’ve never met this woman. I don’t even know where in the world she lives. Yet, we have this incredible connection now. I think about her and wonder if she is doing OK. I also think about what I was doing with my life at 21 years of age and it’s almost embarrassing because it definitely didn’t involve a life or death struggle…unless you count trying to find my way back to my apartment on campus in the middle of the night after having a few too many…while wearing a toga…and high heels.
Wow, it still completely amazes me that someone out there is considered my “match”. Since I don’t know her name, I’ll refer to her as “MM”.
There is a long list of reasons why we are not allowed to know each other yet, but if we both consent after a year, we could meet. I’m not sure if she will be game. I read a patient’s blog somewhere that said that receiving someone else’s stem cells into her body was like someone spitting in your coke and you being forced to drink it in order to live. She obviously had no interest in meeting her donor. Hopefully, MM doesn’t feel this way, although I would respect her feelings if she does. I would love to meet her and give her a huge hug.
I have coached high school softball for 6 years…some of my girls are now 21. I would love to tell MM that it was the first day of softball season the very day I donated blood to see if I was beyond just a tissue match for her. They didn’t quite prep me as to how much blood they would be taking, or more likely I didn't entirely read the letter they sent. It was 16 vials of blood, ouch! I went straight to practice and was more than a little dizzy. As I went through the process, my girls watched with curiosity and compassion. It inspired them to want to register to donate when they turn 18. I coach at a private, Catholic high school and there were many prayers said on MM’s behalf. If I meet her, I would tell her about the day that I donated the stem cells. While I was hooked up to an aphaeresis machine for 7 hours, my team was winning their preliminary game in the state tournament. I was still weak and had to be brought down to the field in a golf cart for the first few practices afterwards. They went on to win the State Championship for the first time in the history of my school. That experience was a defining one in my life and ranks right up with for me with my wedding day and the births of both of my children.
How I got involved:
I was doing research for work in January. I stumbled across information on how to register with the National Marrow Donor Program. I actually saw a blog post about a woman needing to find a match. She resembled me. It was her big blue eyes caught my attention. Her friends had raised money to cover the $52 fee for a tissue-typing kit. They provided a link to sign up online. The kit was mailed to my house and I swabbed the inside of my mouth with a q-tip and sent back the kit. I was contacted shortly thereafter because I was considered a tissue match for someone (Not the woman whose story inspired me to sign up...unfortunately, she never found a match and passed away). I was sent for blood work and deemed a true match. I had to go for a complete physical and was cleared to donate just a couple of weeks later. From the time I filled out the form online to the time of donation, only 5 months passed. According to the doctors, nurses and anyone else I encountered during the process, that’s pretty much unheard of. There are 10 million donors on the registry. According to the NMDP, "On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching for a life-saving donor" and I was immediately a match for someone in urgent need.
If you’d like more information before I get around to another post about the process itself, feel free to leave me a comment or email me at: themommy@mommycosm.com.
Have a great weekend!
Reader Comments (3)
First off, you rock for doing what you did. I have nothing but respect for someone that truly sees the value of the life they are given, and are prepared to give back in order to help another. Second, 16 VIALS! Damn, thats a lotta blood. I gave blood a few years ago and was glad when I got my cookie and orange juice!
I second the "rocking" because you totally do. A family member recently passed due to luekemia and a transplant that didn't take. It was awful. Great cause and you are very inspirational I must say. Go coach!
I hope MM wants to meet you! We found out just 13 days ago that a match has been identified for my husband. We are anxiously awaiting word that Mr. Hero (the only thing we know about the donor is he's male) has been given the final clearance and all things are a go. On behalf of MM, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.