How You Can Help Save A Life
Bone Marrow Donations
Become a potential donor by joining the Be The Match Registry. It's easy to join and means that you will be apart of a growing list of people who are willing to donate their bone marrow or PBSC if called upon. You can call your choice of donor registry or go online and complete an online form. Then you will be sent a "cheek swab" kit with simple instructions that you can return through the mail. It's that simple!
Where can I become a donor?
These are the country's leading organizations that help register new Bone Marrow donors.
Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry
The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) and our Be The Match Foundation (SM) are nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they need, when they need it.
Phone: (800) MARROW2 (800-627-7692)
DKMS Bone Marrow Donor Center
DKMS is a donor center which is a member of the Be The Match Registry®
DKMS is the worlds largest bone marrow donor center originated in Europe. DKMS registers donors of all races and ethnicities and adds them to the Be The Match Registry® (operated by the NMDP), so all patients can benefit.
Phone: 866.340.DKMS (3567)
Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation
Gift of Life is an associate donor registry of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and an accredited registry by the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA). Gift of Life strives to increase the representation of ethnic diversity, especially Jewish, within the worldwide registry.
Phone: (800) 9MARROW
Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry
The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) and our Be The Match Foundation (SM) are nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they need, when they need it.
Phone: (800) MARROW2 (800-627-7692)
DKMS Bone Marrow Donor Center
DKMS is a donor center which is a member of the Be The Match Registry®
DKMS is the worlds largest bone marrow donor center originated in Europe. DKMS registers donors of all races and ethnicities and adds them to the Be The Match Registry® (operated by the NMDP), so all patients can benefit.
Phone: 866.340.DKMS (3567)
Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation
Gift of Life is an associate donor registry of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and an accredited registry by the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA). Gift of Life strives to increase the representation of ethnic diversity, especially Jewish, within the worldwide registry.
Phone: (800) 9MARROW
What if I'm a match?
If you are a life saving match for someone, there are 2 different ways you can donate. Your doctor will discuss with you your options and whether or not you are healthy enough to be a donor. Also, if you are called up, usually the procedure and any travel that is required is covered through the foundations listed above.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC) Donation
The most commonly requested way to donate by patient's doctors is a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation. This is an outpatient, non-surgical procedure. Cells are collected via the bloodstream and on the day of the collection, the donors blood is removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is then returned to the donor through the other arm.
Bone Marrow Donation
There are many myths surrounding bone marrow donations. In reality, it is a simple procedure that generally takes 1 to 2 hours. The process of donation is painless because donors receive local or general anesthesia to eliminate any possible pain prior to the procedure. This is a surgical procedure that requires a small incision in your lower back. Contrary to popular myths, however, your bones are not cut into. The bone marrow is collected via a special syringe that extracts the needed marrow. Your body will replace that marrow within a few weeks. Generally the donor is discharged from the hospital at the end of the day and donors usually only feel some soreness in the following weeks.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC) Donation
The most commonly requested way to donate by patient's doctors is a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation. This is an outpatient, non-surgical procedure. Cells are collected via the bloodstream and on the day of the collection, the donors blood is removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is then returned to the donor through the other arm.
Bone Marrow Donation
There are many myths surrounding bone marrow donations. In reality, it is a simple procedure that generally takes 1 to 2 hours. The process of donation is painless because donors receive local or general anesthesia to eliminate any possible pain prior to the procedure. This is a surgical procedure that requires a small incision in your lower back. Contrary to popular myths, however, your bones are not cut into. The bone marrow is collected via a special syringe that extracts the needed marrow. Your body will replace that marrow within a few weeks. Generally the donor is discharged from the hospital at the end of the day and donors usually only feel some soreness in the following weeks.
Did you know?
While some patients can find matches in their family, there are still many who cannot find bone marrow matches despite all of the work that has been done to get new donors registered.
Ideal bone marrow donor candidates are males between 25 and 40. But all healthy, adult donors are welcome.
Only 5% or less of a donor's marrow is needed for a transplant.
25% of bone marrow is collected from the hip. The other 75% is collected from stem cells of circulating blood.
Contrary to popular belief, donating your bone marrow is NOT a painful process that can take weeks to recover from. In fact, most side effects are a little soreness, possibly some fatigue that usually goes away after a few days, or one to two weeks.
The body replaces donated marrow within four to six weeks
There are about 70 life threatening diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and many others that a bone marrow or cord blood donation can cure.
Ideal bone marrow donor candidates are males between 25 and 40. But all healthy, adult donors are welcome.
Only 5% or less of a donor's marrow is needed for a transplant.
25% of bone marrow is collected from the hip. The other 75% is collected from stem cells of circulating blood.
Contrary to popular belief, donating your bone marrow is NOT a painful process that can take weeks to recover from. In fact, most side effects are a little soreness, possibly some fatigue that usually goes away after a few days, or one to two weeks.
The body replaces donated marrow within four to six weeks
There are about 70 life threatening diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and many others that a bone marrow or cord blood donation can cure.
Cord Blood Donations
Cord Blood is blood taken from the umbilical cord of a new born baby. Once thrown away with the trash, this rich source of stem cells has proven to be a literal life saver for so many suffering with blood disorders and cancers like Leukemia. With a little bit of planning, you can change someone's life by choosing to save your cord blood and donating it to a public cord blood bank, at no cost to you.
Cord blood is rich in blood-forming cells (they are not embryonic stem cells), that are no longer needed by your baby after their birth. But these cells may be needed by someone else, someone with a life-threatening disease like Leukemia or Lymphoma who is searching desperately for a transplant to survive. You, as a new parent will have the amazing ability to give the gift of life twice.
Cord blood is rich in blood-forming cells (they are not embryonic stem cells), that are no longer needed by your baby after their birth. But these cells may be needed by someone else, someone with a life-threatening disease like Leukemia or Lymphoma who is searching desperately for a transplant to survive. You, as a new parent will have the amazing ability to give the gift of life twice.
Where can I donate?
Although every area does not have a local program, there are facilities available that are able to receive cord blood donations from any hospital and state. Check the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) website for a list of affiliated public banks.
The NMDP also has a list of non-affiliated banks that you may call. These banks have a wider network of collecting hospitals, including prestigious organizations such as the New York Blood Center.
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) (Be The Match)
For 20 years, the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) has matched donors and patients to facilitate bone marrow transplants and help save lives. Today, the NMDP is committed to partnering with cord blood banks around the world to build a strong network and inventory of high-quality cord blood units available to any patient who needs a transplant. In 2006, the NMDP was selected by the U.S. federal government to operate the nation’s Cord Blood Coordinating Center. They are also conducting a research study on cord blood transplantation and patient outcomes.
Phone: (800) 627-7692
Cord Blood Forum
The mission of cordbloodforum.org is to serve patients by disseminating information about the availability and effectiveness of cord blood transplants for children and adults, and to facilitate communication among transplant physicians, transplant coordinators, cord blood bank personnel and patients.
The NMDP also has a list of non-affiliated banks that you may call. These banks have a wider network of collecting hospitals, including prestigious organizations such as the New York Blood Center.
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) (Be The Match)
For 20 years, the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) has matched donors and patients to facilitate bone marrow transplants and help save lives. Today, the NMDP is committed to partnering with cord blood banks around the world to build a strong network and inventory of high-quality cord blood units available to any patient who needs a transplant. In 2006, the NMDP was selected by the U.S. federal government to operate the nation’s Cord Blood Coordinating Center. They are also conducting a research study on cord blood transplantation and patient outcomes.
Phone: (800) 627-7692
Cord Blood Forum
The mission of cordbloodforum.org is to serve patients by disseminating information about the availability and effectiveness of cord blood transplants for children and adults, and to facilitate communication among transplant physicians, transplant coordinators, cord blood bank personnel and patients.
Did you know?
Stem cells from umbilical cord blood can be used for blood transplantation when a matching bone marrow donor can't be found?
The first umbilical cord blood transplant was performed over twenty-one years ago.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells have helped many patients who cannot find bone marrow matches.
Since the first umbilical cord blood transplant occurred over 21 years ago, about 14,000 transplants have been performed since then, helping to save thousands of lives.
Many lives of those who could not find bone marrow matches have been saved thanks to umbilical cord blood donors.
There are about 70 diseases that umbilical cord blood and bone marrow transplants can help.
You can pay a lot to store your cord blood in a private cord blood bank. Some families opt to do this to save the cord blood if it is needed at a later time for the baby or family members the donor has listed to receive this donation. Public cord blood banks do not have such fees attached to it.
The first umbilical cord blood transplant was performed over twenty-one years ago.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells have helped many patients who cannot find bone marrow matches.
Since the first umbilical cord blood transplant occurred over 21 years ago, about 14,000 transplants have been performed since then, helping to save thousands of lives.
Many lives of those who could not find bone marrow matches have been saved thanks to umbilical cord blood donors.
There are about 70 diseases that umbilical cord blood and bone marrow transplants can help.
You can pay a lot to store your cord blood in a private cord blood bank. Some families opt to do this to save the cord blood if it is needed at a later time for the baby or family members the donor has listed to receive this donation. Public cord blood banks do not have such fees attached to it.
Help Financially.
If you are unable to donate bone marrow or cord blood, you can also help save lives by making financial contributions. Any contributions made to this site will go directly towards our goal of saving lives. You can start by visiting the web sites listed above, or donating directly to the KeyForLife Foundation.
Questions?
Please email Greg at gvolok@keyforlife.org
