All the information you need is on the website: http://www.bethematch.org. This organization will walk you through every detail and answer every question about donation. Here are the basics:

1. The first step is to join the registry online at the website. If you are between the ages of 18 and 44, patients especially need you. Research shows that cells from younger donors lead to more successful transplants. Doctors request donors in the 18-44 age group more than 95% of the time. If you are between the ages of 45 and 60 and want to join the registry, you’re welcome to join online with a $100 tax-deductible payment to cover the cost to join.

2. A kit will be sent to you. You will swab the inside of your cheek and send in the sample.
If you are a potential match for a patient, you will be contacted at any or all steps of the patient search process. At each stage you will be asked to:
• Confirm your willingness to move forward.
• Sign a consent form.
• Complete questions about your health so that donation is safe for you and the patient. See medical guidelines when you match a patient for more information.
• Confirm your contact information.
• Discuss any questions you have about additional testing and the donation process.

3. All medical expenses related to additional testing and donation will be covered by the patient’s insurance or by Be The Match®.
 
4. Although there are two procedures that are options to be used, Jaron’s doctors have determined that surgical procedure is the one that his donor will need to use. This takes place in a hospital operating room. Doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where the body’s blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone. You will be given anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. After donation, your liquid marrow is transported to the patient’s location for transplant. Typically, the hospital stay for marrow donation is from early morning to late afternoon, or occasionally overnight for observation. The donation will take place in a hospital that is experienced and participates in marrow collections for Be The Match® Obviously, if the donor is close to Jackson, the surgery will be done at UMMC.

5. There are possible side effects. Common side effects of marrow donation reported 2 days after donation: Back or hip pain 84%, Fatigue 61%, Throat pain 32%, Muscle pain 24%, Insomnia 15%, Headache 14%, Dizziness 10%, Loss of appetite 10%, Nausea 9%.

6. Marrow and PBSC donors should expect to return to work, school and most other activities within 1 to 7 days. Your marrow will return to normal levels within a few weeks. It’s important to note that bone marrow donor recovery times will vary depending on the individual and the type of donation.

7. How likely is it that you will be matched to a patient in need? On average, about 1 in 430 U.S. Be The Match Registry members will go on to donate bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) to a patient. Because of the vast variation in tissue types, we can’t predict an individual registry member’s chance of donating to a patient. If you have a relatively common tissue type, you might be one of many who could match a searching patient. If you have an uncommon tissue type, you may never match a patient, or you might be the only one out of more than 13.5 million potential donors on the registry who can save a person’s life. Every person who joins the registry gives patients more hope of finding the match they need. The most important thing you can do as a registry member is to stay informed and committed so that if you’re selected as the best donor, you’re ready to move forward.
 
8. Becoming a donor requires a time commitment. Before you donate, there are several steps to make sure you are the best donor for the patient. These steps include an information session to provide resources to help you make your decision, as well as appointments for additional blood tests and a physical exam. The time needed for the actual donation depends on the donation procedure. The typical time commitment for the donation process is 20-30 hours of your time spread out over a four-to-six-week period. This does not include travel time, which is defined by air travel and staying overnight in a hotel. Nearly 40% of donors will travel during the donation process.

9. The amount of marrow donated will not weaken your own body or immune system. The average amount of marrow and blood donated is about one quart, less if the patient is a baby or child. This is only a fraction of your total marrow. Most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days, and your marrow naturally replaces itself within four to six weeks.

Again, this is basic, general information. If you have specific questions, let me know and I will get an answer for you as soon as possible!