I'm Donating Bone Marrow?!
Question: My Brother is dying of cancer I've been matched 100% to donate bone marrow anyone out there done this can put my mind at ease as I'm a bit scared of the proccess.
Answers: My Brother is dying of cancer I've been matched 100% to donate bone marrow anyone out there done this can put my mind at ease as I'm a bit scared of the proccess.
www.marrow.org has full explanation of donation and transplant proceedures.
Do you know how they are harvesting the cells? They can either use the stem cells from your circulating peripheal blood or actual bone marrow.
If taking from your circulating blood, you will be hooked up to a aphersis machine. Relativly painfree. You will either have two needles inserted, or a small catheter. Ofcourse inserting the needle hurts a lil, but its no big deal. This is the same machine used at the plasma centers, and in red cross blood donations.
Your blood is pulled out by the machine, ran through a centrifuse and seperated. The stem cells they are collecting are a type of white blood cell. The nurse will explain to you lots of cool stuff about the machine and how it works. If they dont, ask tons of questions about, its pretty awesome.
If they are taking actual bone marrow, you will likely be put to sleep. They have to take so much when they are harvesting the stem cells that the donor does indeed get put to sleep.
The aphersis machine takes about 3-4 hours to run its course. You may have to go through the process a couple of times to get enough cells. THe units are counted, sometimes by hand, to ensure there are enough cells for the transplant. The amount needed will vary slightly based on his size/weight.
I believe when doing actual bone marrow, they take all they can in one swipe.
You will probably have to take shouts for 5-10 days before harvest. They can be given anywhere on the body in the fatty tissue. It is a growth hormone that will stimulate your bone marrow, causing you to produce more white blood cells in hopes of getting enough stem cells (the stem cells are a type of white blood cell). This may cause you to have mild bone or joint pain, but tylonal should take care of that.
If you want, you or your brother are free to contact me to talk about the transplant on a personal level. There is an email link from my profile and then I will give you my personal contact info.
It will hurt but you're saving a life.. so that should be some relief.
No but i would do exactly the same thing if it was my sister! Its not going to kill you ,if it did they wouldnt do it.Be strong mate your brother needs you,you can do it!
I have heard that it is painful; but think of it like this "the pain of the transplant will go away fairly quickly; the pain of losing your brother will last your entire life." I think you're very brave and selfless. Good for you.
I've never done it myself but try and raise money for the Anthony Nolan trust, here's a link to their website with some info that might help about the procedure.
http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/index.php...
Hope everything works out for you and your brother.
I admire you.
That may not help much but I wish you all the best and any trauma is for the best of reasons.
Good for you buddy hope all goes well...take care
I found this wee link :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/hea...
It should hopefully put your mind at ease. All the best.
Just think, you are actually saving your own brothers life :) nothing more can comfort you than that thought, and you will both be ok, you are in safe hands :)
You are very noble for agreeing to donate your bone marrow. Just think how both of you will benefit from the procedure - you will be giving your brother the gift of life and you will have the joy of seeing him overcome such a cruel condition and will be able to enjoy his company for longer than you otherwise would have done.
Good on you mate! Hope it all goes well. Cant answer your question from a personal point of view but I'm on the bone marrow list and have read its rather a like a mini op. A bit painful but nothing major. A few days off work. Nothing really to what your brothers been through.
Stay strong you two - you are both Heroes!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=e7HPqi5uVe...