Many of our patients young and old suffer from various forms of leukemia and anemia. These diseases affect the cells in our bodies that produces our red blood. Our red blood cells flow through our arteries and veins to feed the rest of our body’s cells with oxygen and nutrients. Under normal circumstances our bone marrow is the stuff that produces our red blood cells so that we can live healthy lives.

Unfortunately leukemia and other like diseases disturb our marrow’s ability to produce red blood cells. Medical science has found that if a person is matched with another person’s marrow who has a similar HLA tissue type, they can perform a successful marrow transplant which can help produce the much needed red blood cells the sick person needs. The only problem is that it can be very difficult to match a sick person with a healthy person who has a similar HLA type.

Luckily the National Marrow Donor Program can help match folks who need donations with other folks that can provide tissue that won’t be rejected in the body. Donating marrow is a little more involved than donating blood. It requires a small surgical procedure and this may turn a lot of people off. However, unlike giving blood, not every one who registers may donate marrow. I registered 4 years ago and have not been called yet. But if I am called to donate, I’d be more than happy to do so. Just think - you are giving away something in your own body that can help save another life. The best part is that your body will regenerate the marrow that you gave!

The process is very simple:

Step 1. Go to marrow.org and click on the Join Now tab

Step 2. Wait for your free match-kit in the mail

Step 3. Once you receive the match-kit, take the sterilized cotton swabs that are provided and swab the saliva in your mouth.

Step 4. Place the swab in the sterilized enveloped provided

Step 5. Drop the envelope in the mail.

Step 6. Save a life!!!!

It’s that easy. I encourage everyone to sign up for this program. It is completely anonymous and it can save many lives.

marrow.org