Bone Marrow Donation
Before my donation . . .
I joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry during a 2022 LSU Tiger Band practice when a representative’s visit inspired me to sign up. My aunt had battled cancer in the 1980's, and a bone marrow transplant might have saved her life if she had found her match. Remembering this, the thought of potentially helping someone made my decision to join the registry. After only two years on the registry, I received the call: I was a match for a child with adrenoleukodystrophy, a rare but devastating genetic condition that leads to neurological degradation, progressive functional disability, and death if left untreated. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, or umbilical cord blood is thus far the only treatment capable of stabilizing the progression of this condition.
There are two modes of donation: a surgical procedure, in which bone marrow is drawn directly from the iliac crest of the pelvis (think lower back area on either side) using two 14-gauge needles while the donor is under anesthesia, or a non-surgical procedure in which the donor is connected to an apheresis machine that collects stem cells from the donor's blood over the course of 4 to 6 hours. My recipient's care team decided that the surgical donation procedure would be most beneficial, and as soon as I agreed to donate, the donation journey began in earnest. The NMDP representatives were incredible, guiding me through all the bloodwork appointments, health screenings, and logistical preparations for donation day. I ultimately donated about 500 mL of marrow and was left with mild soreness for a few days and a couple little scars on my lower back - a small price to pay for buying my recipient more time.
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​I was provided some information on my recipient's condition, but I was curious to learn more about his survival outlook considering that he received bone marrow from an unrelated donor, as opposed to not being treated at all or receiving stem cells in a different format. As such, I decided to take the initiative and explore my recipient's survival probabilities through a research project for one of my data analysis classes, BE 4910. My workup specialist was even kind enough to help me gather some information for this project, including my own Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) profile. In addition to answering my own questions about my impact on my recipient's quality of life, this project allowed me to spread awareness about blood stem cell donation and NMDP's mission of matching donors to recipients. By sharing my donation experience in both my class presentation and heartfelt conversation, I recognized that effective communication can truly be life-saving as I convinced a couple of my peers to join the registry. If you'd like to read more about my data analysis project, I invite you to click the button below.
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​​​Overall, my donation experience continues to remind me of the importance of stepping up when it matters most–whether that's in a lab, in a team, on the football field, on the water, or in making a life-or-death decision. At my core, I am driven by a desire to help others, and this sense of purpose fuels my work ethic, my resilience, and my commitment to excellence.
. . . and after!
If you’re reading this and considering joining the registry, I wholeheartedly recommend it. NMDP covers all costs, including travel and logistical arrangements, and their workup specialists are kind, patient, and supportive every step of the way. For a bit of temporary discomfort, you have the chance to make a profound difference for someone fighting for their life. It’s beyond worth it.