Bone Marrow Donation

Words fall short of expressing the pride I feel in my amazing daughter. Touched by a video she saw, Kristina registered as a potential bone marrow donor years ago. She knew the odds were extremely low that she’d ever get a call. One in 40 are called for testing as a possible match. Only one in 300 are a match. And, even then, there are numerous, potentially disqualifying, small steps before getting to donation day. I registered about 20 years ago but have never been contacted.

https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/join-the-marrow-registry/likelihood-you-will-donate/

I was honored to accompany my daughter to the closest bone marrow donation center, George Washington Hospital in Washington, DC. All expenses were covered  and we were treated very well. Due to the shots she was getting to increase her white blood cell count, she had flu-like symptoms for a few days before the donation and wasn’t feeling much like enjoying DC but we managed a pleasant dinner at Founding Farmers, one of our favorite restaurants, the night before the procedure (non-alcoholic drinks only).

Kristina was given limited information about the person in need of her bone marrow–only that it was a 58-year old woman with a rare form of blood cancer.  Advances in bone marrow harvesting allow for most to be through a peripheral extraction from blood. Surgery is still an option but not as common. At the completion of the six-hour process, while she was still in bed, a courier came into the hospital room, took the donation, and left. We were told that if the recipient is in the United States, the donation would be delivered within 24 hours and if she is out of the country, it would be received within 48 hours.

A little less than 48 hours later, Kristina received a phone call that the bone marrow had been received by a woman in Belgium. Because of privacy rules with the Belgium bone marrow donation system, there is no exchange of information such as names and phone numbers. Hopefully, Kristina will get an update in six-to-nine months with an update on the recipient’s health. Regardless, it was an important and generous thing to do. I thank God for such an amazing daughter who never thought twice when asked to make this important gift to a person she’ll never meet.