Life's Little Victories: Be An Organ Or Bone Marrow Donor

This is exactly why I made this list!! Two years ago I put myself on the bone marrow registry after it had been on my life list.

A few months ago I was called by the National Marrow Donor Program cause I was a possible match for someone. I went in to get a few labs drawn and they told me that only 1 out of 12 people that reach that point end up being a match and a donor for a patient. Months go by and I assume I am part of the 11 of 12 that don't end up donating.

Then in early July I get a call telling me that I am a match but that the patient was not ready for a bone marrow transplant. Three hours later (no joke) I get a call saying that it was a mistake and that the patient does need the transplant!

Before the donation I had to get numerous blood tests, urine samples, x-ray's, ekg's, and a physical exam. I also had to go to the hospital every morning to get 2 shots of neupogen in my arm for 5 days. I was in a ton of pain because of the medicine....and I refused all the pain medication they offered me (what can I say...I'm a pretty stubborn person!). Basically you feel like you have a horrible case of the flu and your back hurts, your ribs, everything! I would stand up and the pain would just shoot through my entire body and I wouldn't be able to move! But I remembered why I was doing it, and it made everything more bearable.

Blood getting drawn from my 14 gauge IV. HUGE IV! The PICC nurse had to place my IV's using an ultrasound! Apparently I only had 2 good veins in one arm, and only 1 good one in the other.

The machine that filtered my stem cells and took my blood out and put it back in. :)

Yesterday I donated my stem cells to someone who has a blood disorder that essentially turns into a form of leukemia (AML) if not treated by a bone marrow transplant. For the procedure I had to get 2 huge IV's placed into both arms and be immobile for 4 hours (they even had to give me ativan to relax my veins). 20+ pokes later, a severe case of hypocalcemia, heart arrythmias caused by the hypocalcemia, and tears shed from being in pain was so worth it. I only had temporary discomfort, but I gave this random stranger a second chance at life. :)

I am not allowed to donate any blood for the next year in case my donor needs more cells from me. Also...once we hit the year point we both have the opportunity to meet each other! Exciting! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!