ADL Mark Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I've not checked if this is a repost, and I make no apologies if it is as I think as many people as possible should get a chance to see it. This is a subject very close to my heart, and some of you may have seen this guy's story on the news last week - http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk/. I warn you now that tissues may be required, this is one amazing and inspirational guy. You can read up on his story on his blog, but to cut a long story short he is spending his last few weeks or months on this world campaigning for more education in schools on bone marrow transplants to try and raise awareness and improve the chances of people looking for a bone marrow donor. There's an online government petition that you can sign here - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bone-marrow/ - so please take two minutes to have a read and sign it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Nobody even got a comment on this?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I've already signed it I lost a friend through leukaemia, anything to raise awareness is a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Thanks Thorin, thought it strange that nobody had replied at all to the thread, I thought it would have been quite an emotive subject. At the very least I'm obviously not on your block list, don't know about everybody else though I was originally diagnosed with Leukaemia 2.5 years ago, was treated and relapsed. I had a transplant in November and am now 203 days post. I was lucky to find a perfect match donor in the UK, but there was only one match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Well done my friend:), I also lost my best friend after a bone marrow then stem cell transplant:(, it's great you are trying to raise awareness:thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 I want to do anything I can, I kind of feel it's the least I can do to give something back. It's so sad to hear of people who have lost the fight, but there's also so many people out there who have beaten this against all odds. I've met some amazing people over the last couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSupTT Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 signed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I'm a registered bone marrow donor with Anthony Nolan Trust. Have been for over 10 years now. They've never actually matched me with anyone though. They contacted me a couple times when they thought I might be a match for somebody but after the further test I wasn't a good enough match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dane_stone Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I'm a blood doner and never thought about being a bone marrow doner. How do you become one? Always interested in getting more karma points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 My wife's son gave stem cells in Jan through the Anthony Nolan Trust. As far as we are aware at the moment its been successful. Are you planning on meeting the doner after the 2 year period? I have signed partition and have clicked on your link to register with the AN trust, thanks for the prod of motivation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Follow the link in my sig to the Anthony Nolan Trust, there's details there. Or you can speak to the nurses when you go to give blood and sign up there. All they will do is test a sample of your blood and put you on the register, so it's painless if you're already giving blood anyway. Jake - that's quite common due to the way they test the samples. The first tests give them an outline on the matches, but it's quite broad. If a search then finds you to be within that broad match they'll contact you for another blood test and do a much deeper DNA test that will fully show the match and whether you're close enough or not. They're always aiming for 100% match as this causes the least problems, though it is never devoid of problems. Interestingly, most people don't realise that the matching process is done on something called HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens) and not on blood group. Basically it's matching the immune systems to each other. The donor can be a completely different blood group to the recipient. I used to be O-Positive but my donor was B-Negative. Over 2-3 months following my transplant my body switched and I am now B-Negative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Thanks Pig, and well done I would really like to meet my donor once the 2-year mark has passed, which I can as long as they agree. All I know at the moment is that they are an English 31-year old female. I found out the other day that I can actually write a fairly anonymous letter to the donor through my Transplant Co-ordinator and they will pass it on. Obviously I can't give away any personal details but I can say some kind of thanks and that I am doing well. They can also do the same in return if they wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Obviously I can't give away any personal details Why's that? It's not obvious to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Sorry Jake, because there is a policy that donor's and recipient's aren't allowed to meet for two years after the procedure. I'm not sure quite why this is, I assume to make sure that the recipient is as far out of the 'danger period' as possible before striking up a relationship. So therefore, any communication can't give away any personal details and must remain completely anonymous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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