A match

I received an e-mail yesterday letting me know that I was one of only 1% of people who sign up as a bone marrow donor that are matched.  I have the amazing honor of potentially helping someone with leukemia.  In a short time I've learned a lot about the donation process. I'll try and keep you posted as the process continues, but here's what will likely happen.

• Today I filled out a health questionnaire, talked with my donation coordinator and was scheduled for a blood draw.
• On Monday I will go to a local lab for a blood draw, which will be used to confirm a tissue match and screen for infectious diseases.
• Assuming I'm still a good match, we will wait to hear from the physician of the receiving person to understand the timeline for the donation.
• About 4 weeks before the donation I will have a physical including a chest x-ray, EKG, and a thorough screening with the physician who will perform the marrow draw. 
• Finally, donation!

I will donate marrow or stem cells in one of two ways.  It turns out the method will depend mostly on the person's age.  Older patients have a higher success rate with peripheral stem cells and younger patients do better with a marrow transplant.  If I donate by peripheral stem cells than I will receive injections for 5 days, which will increase the number of stem cells in my blood.  The day of donation I will be hooked up to a machine for about 6 to 8 hours where they will move blood out of one arm and back to the other with a collection of stem cells in between.  If I donate marrow instead I will go in for an outpatient surgery where I'll be placed under general anesthesia and a small needle will be placed into the back of my pelvic bone.  It seems with both procedures I can expect to have some soreness and fatigue and I've been told I can't lift anything heavier than 10lbs for a couple of weeks (which, if you aren't keeping track, definitely includes my very large babies).  

I have a lot of interesting emotions.  I can't believe I'm in a position to have such an important role in someone else's life.  There are so many things that happen in this process and I only know a portion of what is happening on the other side.  I know that the family has been told there is a match who is willing to donate.  I also know they will have to undergo extensive chemo just before the donation and that they have to be healthy enough to start the process.  I hope this happens now that it has started.  If it doesn't it means I'm not a match and they have to start again or it means they are not healthy enough to proceed. Please keep them in your thoughts and hope for the best!