I’d like to tell you about a wonderful experience I had a few years back. In 2001 I registered as a donor with the National Bone Marrow Program. I did this with the folks at A3M (Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches). Many do not know that marrow matches are usually found from donors of similar races. The national registry is in desperate need of donors from minority and mixed races and often are not able to find matching donors because of this shortage. In 2006, five years after I registered, I was notified that I was a possible match for a 42 year old female who had non-hodgkins lymphoma. After many more screenings and tests, I was finally able to donate my stem cells to her. I would like to encourage everyone who is not already on the registry to please join. This registry has been able to save thousands of lives by matching donors to those who are very ill. Although many patients are fortunate enough to find family and friends for bone marrow donations, there are thousands who are not as fortunate and their only hope is a stranger that’s willing to donate to them.
I share this story in the hopes that I may reassure those who fear the process that the little bit of discomfort was nothing compared to the knowledge that I was able to help someone who was very ill and potentially save a life. Thanks for listening!
A. Egan
Pasadena, CA
I already thought you were an amazing women- this is the icing on the cake!