A serious post

Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 357 Location: Liverpool

I mentioned this to those in BF2 teamspeak last night, but I wanted to post here to let more people know about becoming a bone marrow donor.

On Sunday a lovely lady who in an admin of a parenting site I post on has just had the horrifying news that her 6 month old baby boy has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Crying or Very sad

He had a platelet transfusion yesterday is is starting his chemo today.

My hubby Mike joined the donor register in 2005, I was pregnant with Kaitlyn so couldn't join, you also can't join the register until a year after you give birth so I planned to join in 06 but became pregnant with Alanah. Hearing about Ted has reminded me to sign up, so today I emailed them to get the forms and blood test vials etc sent out.

Anyone can get Leukaemia at any time, but most people who are diagnosed are children between 2-4 years old. The treatment lasts for 2 years for girls and 3 years for boys, but a bone marrow transplant makes thier odds of survival much much higher.

You can read about becoming a donor and download/request the forms here:

http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/

Sorry for the sad post, just wanted to spread the word about becoming a donor, so many people know about being a blood donor but not many know about the bone marrow register. Someone who needs a transplant may only have one single person in the whole world that is a match to thier tissue type, you could be that match.

Thanks
Wenchy

Consoles Moderator Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 837

well, even though im not in the same isle(not even on an isle) this reminds me that anything you can do for your fellow peepds (from blood to organs) is vital even if its just being oan organ doner in case of an untimely death. oh and i have a question, like in israel there are sometimes plays,shows,events, that give free tickets to those who donate blood to the mobile donation unit set up especially for this: does this phenomonon exist in the uk. or are all donations need to beed made purely as a donation?

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:18 pm

Purely as a donation. You used to get a cup of tea and a biscuit when you gave blood though, not sure if you still do.

Joined: Jul 01, 2005 Posts: 456 Location: Watching You

You have to be the sweetest softest person ive ever met wenchy Very Happy

. im 18 and im not sure about age restrictions on thse kind of things allthough im a bit uneasy about having blood taking out ive allways wanted to do it just to piss of those jehovah witnesses that drive me up the wall. . When it comes to bone marrow it sounds somehow more painfull than giving blood allthough i have no idea how its done tbh..

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:34 pm

Sorry, I know this is a serious post, but your mums puppies look great mook.

Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 357 Location: Liverpool

MooK wrote:

You have to be the sweetest softest person ive ever met wenchy Very Happy

. im 18 and im not sure about age restrictions on thse kind of things allthough im a bit uneasy about having blood taking out ive allways wanted to do it just to piss of those jehovah witnesses that drive me up the wall. . When it comes to bone marrow it sounds somehow more painfull than giving blood allthough i have no idea how its done tbh..

I know I'm a softy, cant help it Embarassed

It's been breaking my heart thinking about poor Ted today, he's still so tiny Crying or Very sad

There are two ways to harvest the bone marrow, there is the traditional route - general anaesthetic is given and they insert long needles into your hip bones through the small of your back, apparently this leaves you with no pain, maybe some uncomfortableness. Or there is the new way - you are given injections over 4 days to make your body over produce stem cells which are then released into your bloodstream, then they attach you to a machine via a canula in your hand to remove the cells straight from your blood, this takes around 4-5 hours. The injections they give you beforehand can make you feel achey/drained etc kind of like you have a cold but it stops after a few days.

Pretty easy really Very Happy

I think the minimum age is 16-17, there are restrictions on certain medical conditions, not sure which ones but huby has an underactive thyroid and he's still fine as a candidate. They particularly needhealthy young men, as you make more bonemarrow, you may not ever be found as a match, but it's worth filling in the forms and giving the blood sample just incase.

Wenchy

Consoles Moderator Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 837

brune wrote:

Sorry, I know this is a serious post, but your mums puppies look great mook.

i just love teenage pregnancies lol.