Becoming A Donor

Becoming a donor and donating bone marrow are two very different things. Only 1 in 500 donors continue on to donate.

Becoming a donor is easy -- all you have to do is simply fill out some basic information and swab the inside of your cheeks for 10 seconds. THAT'S IT! In less than a minute, you could become a donor, and save a life.

To read more on the actual donation process, click here. 

Fact vs. Fiction

When some people are asked if they want to be a donor, they cringe and ask, "Wouldn't that hurt?". However, thanks to advancing medical technology bone marrow collection is an almost painless process.

The older, most know method of bone marrow collection is bone marrow donation. Through this method, the donor is put under general anesthesia and a special needle is inserted into the backside of the pelvic bone. There is no pain during the one to two hour, outpatient, surgical procedure. Afterwards, donors experience some pain, bruising, and stiffness for up to two weeks. A week after donation, most donors are able to return to regular activities, and marrow is replenished within a few weeks. However, this method of extraction is now only used 15% of the time.

Nowadays, the most common form of collection is through peripheral blood stem cell donation (PBSC). Cells are collected through the bloodstream. Donors receive daily injections of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for four days prior and on the day of collection, to increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream. On the day of collection, the donor's blood is removed from one needle in one arm. The blood then passes through a machine that separates out the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is pumped back into the donor through the other arm. This form of collection is outpatient, and takes about 4-6 hours on 1-2 consecutive days. Donors may experience some flu-like symptoms while receiving the injections and for no more than two days after donation. PBSC is used 85% of the time.

The method used depends entirely on the patient's needs. So yes, either way you may feel a little sore, but don't you feel sore after you work out? Yes, you may feel a little sick, but who hasn't been achey before? These side effects may be annoying, but cancer is worst. Become a donor and treasure your health even more.

So You Want To Be A Donor

So, you want to be a bone marrow donor? First of all, THANK YOU! More than 20,000 people in the United States are in need of a bone marrow transplant. There is only a 1 in 4 chance that a sibling will be a match for a patient in need, so you could make the difference! However, there are some basic eligibility requirements.


BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Between the ages 18 and 55
• Be in good health
• Weigh more than 110 lbs.
• Not be HIV positive of at risk for AIDS
• Not have severe heart disease
• Not have a history of cancer*
• Not have severe asthma (daily inhalers are acceptable)
• Not have diabetes requiring insulin
• Not have hepatitis
• Not have epilepsy
• Not have chronic or severe back problems
• Not have autoimmune disorders (such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis)
• *Cervical, breast, and bladder cancer (stage o) and cured skin cancer are acceptable

If you meet these requirements, you have the chance to save a life and become a hero! 

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my website! My name is Hannah Kokes and I am a senior at ThunderRidge High School. All seniors are required to complete something called a Senior Project in their final year of high school.  The Senior Project allows students to explore interests and talents outside of academics, while gaining knowledge on something completely new. For my project, I have organized a bone marrow drive through the foundation, Love Hope Strength.

For many years now, I have wanted to be a doctor. I love to problem solve, but also interact with people as they face challenges. To me, being a doctor is much more than the medicine. It’s about compassion and gaining perspective. I have become involved in the medical community through ways such as volunteering at the local hospital and donating blood. However, I feel that I can make a greater impact; I will be able to achieve this with my project. Many people in our community have been affected by cancer in some way, whether it be through battling the disease themselves or watching a friend or family member fight it. As a spectator of the disease, we sometimes feel helpless. Through organizing a bone marrow drive, I hope to raise awareness in the community on how they can get involved and potentially save a life.