Taylor Pays It Forward

Our daughter Taylor decided a few months ago to become a bone marrow donor.  Roger and I are so proud of her. 

Taylor Tallas, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada

Candi:  Becoming a bone marrow donor seems like a big step. Why did you make that decision?

Taylor:  It’s sad, and a little embarrassing that it takes something so serious to rock your world before your eyes are opened.  We are all so busy with our day-to-day lives, and don’t give it a second thought… until it effects you or someone you love.  It’s something that I could have and should have done long ago, but now I feel it more than ever…Time to pay it forward!

Candi:  Why would you want to donate to someone you don’t even know?

Taylor:  I had such a feeling of helplessness when Roger was sick, I hope that in some way, I can help ease that feeling for another family.

Candi: Have you already been matched with someone who needs a transplant?

Taylor:  Not yet, and I may never be, but somehow, being in the registry, I feel a little less helpless.

Candi:  What does a donor have to go through?  
Taylor:  A sample of the registrant's DNA is taken (with a cheek swab) and used to identify a number of Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).  The information is stored in the donor database for patient searches.  HLA’s are genetic markers that are inherited from our parents.  A number of antigens have been identified as important when matching donor and patient. Obviously, the closer the match between the patient and donor, the better the outcome will be for the patient. The patient's transplant physician will look first for a compatible donor in the patient's family and will arrange for testing of appropriate relatives. In general, the most likely family members to match will be the siblings. However, chances of finding a compatible donor in the family are less than 30%.  If no suitable relative is found, a request is made to the Stem Cell and Marrow Network to search for a donor throughout the US and Canada as well as all international donor registries.

Candi:  How are bone marrow cells actually collected?
Taylor:  There are two methods.  In the first, called a stimulated peripheral blood stem cell donation, a part of the donor’s circulating blood is taken. To increase the number of stem cells in the blood, the donor receives injections of a drug called a granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) every day for four or five days. The stem cells are then collected using a procedure called apheresis where the blood is drawn, the stem cells separated out, and the remaining blood is returned back into the donor’s body. This is a non-surgical procedure.  Apheresis is commonly used in a variety of situations – for example, plasma donors may undergo apheresis up to 52 times a year!  

The second method is a bone marrow stem cell donation.  This is a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia. A syringe and hollow needle is used to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the donor’s pelvic bones. The procedure usually takes 45-90 minutes and it collects blood along with the stem cells from the bone marrow.

Candi:  When will you donate? 
Taylor:  As soon as I am a match. 

Candi:  How does it make you feel knowing that a call could come at any time, or perhaps never? 
Taylor:  I’ve put it out of my head for now.  I am on the registry, and that’s all that I can do from my end.  If I am called, I will be more than happy to donate. On the flip side, if I am never called, I’ve got to believe that someone didn’t go without the stem cells they needed, but they found a match geographically closer. 

Candi:  How can other people find out about becoming a donor? 
Taylor:  I wasn’t sure where to look, so I Googled “bone marrow donor” and found these two websites, one Canadian and one American, either of which will get you the info that you need on how to become a donor and provide more details on the process of donation.* 
*Candi's note:  Blogger is not behaving itself, so I am not able to add the links for bonemarrow (.org) and onematch (.ca), even as plain text.  I'll add them when I can, and you can use them as search terms in Google.