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register to be a bone marrow donor


 

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How to register to be a bone marrow donor by carecalder

"There is no reason not to register to become a bone marrow and stem cell donor! Do it today. "

How I did it: It's incredibly easy to register to become a bone marrow and stem cell donor in Canada.

First off, it costs you nothing. Secondly the majority of the work can be done online.

Once you've filled out the application, One Match will contact you. First by email confirming the registration, then by phone when they clarify a few questions with you (name, basic contact info, etc).

Within a few days you'll receive a package that contains four cotton swabs. You swab your upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right inside cheeks for 30 seconds to collect tissue and attach tag to make note of the date and your i.d. number.

Pop the swabs into the little holder and send back in the mail in an prepaid envelope.

That's it. You're done.

I can't believe I didn't do this sooner. I'm not sure if I will ever be able to help someone, but just knowing that I put myself out there makes me feel happy.

Lessons & tips: Just do it.

Fewer than 30 per cent of patients who need stem cell transplants find
a compatible donor within their own families. You could be the match that will save a life.

Resources: http://www.onematch.ca/


1 person found this helpful
 

Jun 29, 07:32AM PDT | 1 comment | 4 cheers



More "How I Did It" stories

stuffandthingshappen

It took me
1 day
It made me

How I did it: My mother is a receptionist at a hair salon, and one of the children of a client needed marrow, so there was a drive in the area.  My entire family registered to be donors. Read how I did it…

Nov 18, 10:52AM PST | 1 comment


cmdiamond is stretching body and soul

It took me
2 days
It made me
Happy

How I did it: I went to marrow.org and looked up a donor drive in my area. NYU was hosting a drive sponsored by The Icla da Silva Foundation.  All they needed was some basic information, including, health history, personal information and references ( in case you move). To collect a DNA sample, you swab the inside of your cheeks with a Q-tip. Read how I did it…

Apr 16, 12:16PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer


Kat is trying to better herself

It took me
1 day
It made me
satisfied

How I did it: Went to the drive my school had this morning and got it done. ^-^ It took about twenty minutes to fill out the paperwork and then another three to scrape some cheek cells and put them in the envelope. Piece of cake! Read how I did it…

Mar 31, 08:16PM PDT | 0 comments


huw

It took me
1 day
It made me

How I did it: I am from South Africa, so my experience will probably only be relevant to other South Africans. It was so easy! I called the Sunflower Fund, gave them some information about myself over the phone, they emailed me a form which I then took to my nearest branch of the South African National Blood Service where they took a sample of my blood - and that was it! Now my information is archived and if I'm matched to someone I'll be called to don… Read how I did it…

Nov 17, 2008, 09:38AM PST | 0 comments | 2 cheers


stupormom

It took me
1 day
It made me
feel good inside

How I did it: It was something I'd read about and wanted to do. I'd actually bookmarked the site. So...working away and I took a break and spent some time organizing bookmarks. I read more and searched for a location near me. Turned out it was 4 miles from my house.It was super easy. Q-Tip type swab in the corners of your cheeks, answer a few questions.Some people remark about the pain of the extraction process. I say, man, I could save someone's life.… Read how I did it…

Oct 29, 2008, 05:38PM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers


→ See all 8 "How I did it" stories

People doing this:

  • Edinburgh
    4 entries
  • Fort Worth
    2 entries
  • Radolfzell
    2 entries
  • Calgary
    1 entry
  • Scarborough
    1 entry
  • Washington, D.C.
    1 entry
  • Edinburgh
    1 entry

    • → See all people

    People doing this are also doing these things:

    Entries

    bec012 is waiting on her results

    Registered yesterday! 1 week ago

    I’ve officially registered to be placed on both the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and the worldwide registry. I submitted the application form and the process is under way. I donated blood a third time and two tubes of blood were also collected to be sent off to the ABMDR. Who knows what will happen.

    Nov 12, 03:11PM PST | 2 cheers | 0 comments


    Georgina47 has to return foster kittens :(

    Swabbed, Sealed, Delivered 4 months ago

    I did the cheek swabs, completed the packet and mailed it back! Not having to endure pain to get registered should be a big incentive to do this (I guess they used to have to take a sample to type you?)
    I know the procedure itself for donation is painful, but at that point you know you’re helping save someone’s life.
    I encourage everyone to get typed!!! Don’t wait until someone you know or love needs help. People out there now who are looking for matches are someone else’s parents, siblings, or children. www.marrow.org

    Jul 04, 12:52PM PDT | 3 cheers | 0 comments


    carecalder is so so sleepy after a very late but super fun night

    Done and done 4 months ago

    I sent in my samples before the weekend. Swabbed, dated and labeled.

    So now I can officially consider this goal achieved.

    Now I just wait to see if anyone ever needs me. :)

    Jun 29, 07:23AM PDT | 1 comment


    carecalder is so so sleepy after a very late but super fun night

    Awaiting my official package 5 months ago

    So I received my official call and they are sending my package to me this week. Basically I need to swab my mouth and send the package back to them…. Then, that’s it. I just wait and see if I am ever needed.

    Once I’m officially registered my bone barrow/stem cells will be included in an international group of registries and cord blood banks that transmit their monthly donor tissue typing results to Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide.

    I won’t consider this done until I’ve actually sent of my package, but I am happy that I finally stopped procrastinating and got this done.

    • I realize how lucky I am because in Canada it costs nothing to register to be a donor.
      www.onematch.ca

    Jun 23, 08:28AM PDT | 0 comments


    Georgina47 has to return foster kittens :(

    Easy... 5 months ago

    I noticed that Kat said they were having a free drive. It’s the last day, but I signed up at BeTheMatch.org/marrowthon and got registered without having to pay the $52.
    So my kit should come in about a week!

    Jun 22, 11:36AM PDT | 1 comment


    carecalder is so so sleepy after a very late but super fun night

    Registered! 5 months ago

    Done the leg work and finally registered – now I wait for them to review my information and send me my test swab in the mail.

    Once that’s all done, I’m all ready to go.

    www.onematch.com

    Jun 19, 12:22PM PDT | 1 cheer | 0 comments


    Kat is trying to better herself

    Untitled 5 months ago

    I’ve already registered, but just got word that its free to register from June 8-22. Here’s the link they sent me in the email. BeTheMatch.org/marrowthon. Hope it helps!

    Jun 08, 09:30AM PDT | 1 cheer | 2 comments


    carecalder is so so sleepy after a very late but super fun night

    this is something I really need to do. 7 months ago

    I just need to get off my ass and register already.

    Apr 04, 05:44PM PDT | 1 comment


    Kat is trying to better herself

    Now's my chance! 7 months ago

    I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, but haven’t had the extra $50 needed to get the kit. Fortunately, my school is having a Registry drive tomorrow free of charge! Now to work on my other goal of waking up at a reasonable hour…..

    Mar 30, 01:16PM PDT | 0 comments


    iamnothannah is discovering that 43 things are not nearly enough!!

    ten months till i'm legal! 8 months ago

    in the meantime i’ll just have to keep rallying my slightly older friends :)
    go dooo it!! (y)

    Mar 19, 01:47PM PDT | 1 cheer | 0 comments


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