Recently, I became a bone marrow donor, and I was shocked at how easy it was! The simplicity of a decision that could potentially save the life of another person is fantastic. What shocked me the most though, is the deficiency of bone marrow donors. Did you know that each year, nearly 20,000 people could potentially benefit from a life saving bone marrow donation? So how do you become a bone marrow donor? It’s simple.
Registering: First, visit bethematch.org to register. Once you fill in all of your information, they will send you a kit in the mail that contains four oversized cotton swabs, instructions, a piece of cardboard, and an envelope. Follow the instructions and swab your cheeks with the oversized cotton swabs and place them on the piece of cardboard. Then place the cardboard in the envelope, seal, and place in the mailbox. It’s that easy!
Getting On the Registry: Once Be The Match receives your envelope, they will start the process of testing your swabs and determining your bone marrow type. This part can take the longest; up to two months. But, once it is complete, you will receive your donor card in the mail for proof of all of your hard work! After your bone marrow type is determined, you are officially placed on the national bone marrow registry. You will remain on the registry until you turn 60 years old, or until something in your health deems you ineligible to donate. Donating is ALWAYS voluntary, so you can decide to take yourself off of the registry at any time. It is important that you keep you profile on bethematch.org current, should you decide not to donate, or should you become a match for someone.
Matching A Patient: About 1 in 430 people in the U.S. match people waiting for bone marrow transplants, so should you match a patient, more testing is involved to determine if you are in fact the best possible match for that patient.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Does it cost money to donate? Absolutely not! 100% of the donor’s medical costs for donations are covered. Donors never pay to donate.
- Who can donate bone marrow? People between the ages of 18 and 60 can currently sign up for the registry at bethematch.org. The questions you are asked while registering will help determine if you meet the medial requirements. You can also visit https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/join-the-marrow-registry/medical-guidelines/ to see a list of medical guidelines.
- Will bone marrow donation make me weak? The amount of marrow you donate does not affect your body’s immune system or weaken your own body. The total amount of marrow taken is an average of one quart. Most donors are back to normal routines within a few days and the marrow taken typically replaces itself within four to six weeks.
