Just recently, I registered myself to be a bone marrow donor through the organization Be The Match. Be The Match is a program that is dedicated to saving the lives of people who are in need of marrow or cord blood transplants; and, they accomplish this by continually searching for people to add to their registry. The way the system works is this:
- You register online at https://join.bethematch.org/Start/CreateAccount#El...
- A few weeks later, you will receive a “sample kit” in the mail. Once you complete this kit, you will send it back to Be The Match (the return postage is paid for you).
- With your DNA samples, Be The Match will determine what “type” of bone marrow you are and add you to their registry.
- When a patient needs a marrow or cord blood transplant (and cannot find a match from their friends or family) Be The Match will search their registry for someone who is a positive match for the patient. If you happen to be that person, you will receive a call and will arrange a time to donate either your marrow or cord blood.
Now, considering how incredibly critical this program is, I was shocked at how many questions I faced from those around me about why exactly I would commit myself to donating marrow when needed.
Well, let me tell you something.
The reason that Be The Match is continually searching for people to add to their registry is because every person added, is a potential life saved. And that is precisely why this program is so critical- the ability to receive a marrow or cord blood transplant is literally a life or death situation for patients. These patients include those battling Lymphoma, Leukemia, Pure Red Blood Cell Aphasia, Sickle Cell Disease, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Multiple Myeloma and so many more diseases. Unfortunately, it is far too often that these patients’ biggest battle is not their disease, but finding a marrow or cord blood match. Not everyone is able to find a match in their family or even in their friends, which is where Be The Match comes into the picture. The registry at Be The Match includes thousands of people ready to step up at any moment called upon to save the life of a stranger.
I am now one of those included in that registry.
“Why exactly is that?” You may ask.
Here’s why: I have something within my body that has the power to save the life of someone out there with one simple medical procedure.
The real question should be “Why are YOU not on the registry yet?” Simply using the lame excuse that the recovery from the procedure takes 1-7 days and may be slightly uncomfortable is just that… lame. Actually, it’s more than that. It is a gross miscarriage of your performance as a human being.
These patients awaiting marrow transplants have families. Each one is a daughter or a son with parents often praying more than they are. They are pet owners whose animals will go to the shelter if they pass away. They are living, breathing human beings with lives and families and passions and hobbies and dreams. And now each one of them is relying, hoping and praying that some stranger, possibly across the world, will step up and show both their empathy and their compassion.
Right this very moment, you have something within you that could save the life of a suffering little girl, veteran, high school senior, pilot or someone else. Are you just going to ignore that? Or are you going to step up to save a life?
All I can say is, choose wisely. You are literally making a life or death decision right now. And, if you choose to close this article and disregard the implications of not joining Be The Match, you have failed your basic human responsibilities of both compassion and empathy.
