If you had the opportunity to save a life, would you?
If you were perhaps one of the only people in the world who could save that life, would you?
If it was going to hurt a little, would you still do it? Would you endure that discomfort in exchange for a stranger’s life?
Jason would, and he did.
Jason is a regular guy. He’s a husband, a father, a son. Three and a half years ago, he took his kids to a community fair, and at that fair there was a bone marrow donation registration table. Jason got swabbed, because he was there and he could.
“Why not?” he thought. He had given blood and platelets. It was just a cheek swab.
Jason was anonymously added to the national registry, so that he could be a potential match for a patient with blood cancer. An American is diagnosed with blood cancer every three minutes, but only 40% of patients will receive a bone marrow transplant.
Less than one percent of registered donors get contacted as a possible match.
In December, Jason received a phone call. Based on the information in the registry, he was a match for a young adult who needed bone marrow. He was swabbed again, and then he took a blood test to confirm the match.
A compatible bone marrow donor within the patient’s family is only found 30% of the time. Matches typically require at least 9 out of 10 human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers, but 10 out of 10 is best to optimize the chances that the patient’s immune system will recognize donated cells as their own.
Jason’s markers matched the patient’s markers.
Jason is a regular guy. He’s a husband, a father, a son. He’s not a firefighter or a police officer or a soldier; he’s not in the business of saving lives. He spent three minutes of one day getting swabbed. When the call came, he gave.
I’ve always heard that donating bone marrow was painful. It is extracted from the back of the pelvic bone with a syringe, which doesn’t sound fun. That fear of pain, coupled with the lack of a readily available way to get on the registry, kept me from taking any action.
While I’m sure individual experiences vary, Jason’s convinced me to get swabbed. He shared the timeline with me:
- At the hospital by 6:35 a.m.
- Under general anesthesia by 8:00 a.m.
- In recovery by 10:00 a.m.
- Walking around by 2:00 p.m.
- Begging to go home by 5:00 p.m.
He lounged around the next day, and worked half days for the following two days. He was a little tired, but experienced minimal pain.
Jason is a regular guy, but he’s still a GUY. Insert whatever stereotype of men being pain intolerant you’d like, if it makes you more receptive to donating. He would do it again, so I can get on the registry to possibly do it once.
Because of Jason, I got swabbed, and I’m now on the donor registry. Won’t you consider doing the same?
Here’s what you need to know to get swabbed
What:
Delete Blood Cancer DKMS registers potential bone marrow donors to the national registry, so that patients are given a second chance at life.
Who:
Potential donors must be in good health, between the ages of 18 and 55, weigh more than 105 pounds, and have a body mass index of 40 or below. Over six million donors have been registered worldwide, and almost 55,000 donations have been made.
When:
Donors stay on the registry until they are 61 years old. A donor could be called as a potential match within weeks, or years, or never.
Why:
The more donors and the more ethnic diversity on the registry, the greater the chances of finding matches for all patients. If a donor is called as a potential match, there is a chance that he or she is the only person who can save that patient’s life.
YOU can be that person. Registering is a serious commitment; you must be willing to donate to any patient in need.
How:
Get swabbed. Find a donor drive near you, host your own swab party, or register online. Not in the United States? There are international offices in Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Make a donation and help defray the $65 cost of registering a donor.
Spread the word. Share this post, follow Delete Blood Cancer DKMS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I was not compensated by Delete Blood Cancer DKMS or any other organization or individual to write this post. Jason is the husband of a dear friend, and I was inspired to get swabbed and share information about the national registry. Thank you, Jason, for being a regular guy who did something amazing!
For several years in my early 20s I was involved in an organization for young Jewish professionals. We had a fantastic social event with the main goal to get people’s cheeks swabbed for the registry. Myself and several friends were swabbed — one friend was actually a match and was going to donate but it turned out they didn’t need her after all. I’ll admit, I would be nervous about the pain, but since my dad is a pediatric oncologist I recognize how important bone marrow donations are. Thanks for sharing this, Dana!
Dana- I had never even heard of this before. You have absolutely won me over. I am going to look into this, and absolutely do it. I’m SO glad you shared this, my friend. So so glad. <3 Tell Jason, thank you too. What a man he is. I just love this.
I’m so glad I was able to share this with you, Chris – it’s an amazing opportunity that so many people don’t know about.
Wow, this is a deviation from your usual content and I am inspired. I will consider getting swabbed and will spread the word. Thanks for Jason’s extraordinary story. 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Julia. It is a deviation for me, but what’s the point of having my little corner of the internet if I can’t use it to do some good, right? And Jason’s experience really moved me – I had to share.
Wow. I’ve never even thought about this. I’m a donor in all the other ways. Thanks, Dana. I’ll do this for sure.
Thanks, Kristi. I felt all CSI-ish swabbing my cheek, and I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.
Lovely and inspiration post, Dana i promise when i have an opportunity ever then i will save a life, whatever who is the person!!
I’m so glad to hear that!
DANGIT! I *was* a registered bone marrow donor and having gone back to the organisation I was registered with, cannot REregister because I’m too old. So I’ve signed up with Delete Blood Cancer UK instead 🙂
Thanks for the reminder.
My pleasure! You’re too old? That makes no sense. I’m glad there are other options.
I guess the charity I was registered with was specifically for finding matches amongst younger people, which had no bearing (and consequently was unmemorable) whilst I was one…
Jason is my hero! I’d always heard it hurts, too. Glad it doesn’t. What gift. I promise to investigate. Great job Dana!
Thanks, Allie – and thank you for considering donating.
You have an incredible friend there. I remember when I was little, there was a girl in my class with leukemia. A blood drive was held to see if a match could be found. I remember watching my father donate. He was one among hundreds. Sadly she passed away before she reached the age of 15. It’s so important to get yourself on registries and donate blood regularly as well. Thank you for the reminder.
I couldn’t wait to share Jason’s story – what an amazing gift he gave! And he’s so matter-of-fact about it – he has bone marrow, he’s a match, of course he would give.
Wow, I would totally do this! I have heard that bone marrow is painful, but gosh, could it be any more painful than labor? It’s for an amazing cause if so!
I’d heard about the pain too – that’s why I was pleasantly surprised to hear about Jason’s experience. I hope it encourages people to get swabbed.
I was a registered donar. Too old now! Also donated blood to American Red Cross. You can also donate your body after death. Three persons in my family have done this already. Save lives!!
It does, and it’s so easy to do. Just like being an organ donor – just check a box on your driver’s license, and you could save multiple lives.
I’m only a punk when it comes to dental work and actually looking at a needle (IV, blood draw etc), but I can do this.
I shared!
Thank you Kenya!
I would absolutely do this! All I need to think about are my own kids and how I could potentially help someone in need. What a great post! I shared on Twitter and will find out how to get this done in my area.
Thank you so much, Allie. You could host a Get Swabbed party!
How awesome! I hadn’t heard about this before!
My hope is to spread awareness – such a small percentage of Americans are actually on the registry.
Aw, this is truly amazing and thank you so much for sharing here. Will definitely have to see if I can look into this further as it truly is something that we should all see if we could do to help anyone who is indeed sick with cancer.
I hope you will, Janine!