We are working hard to find Jonathan and blood cancer patients like him a marrow match.  Help us!

One Simple Swab Can Save A Life!

There are three ways to help:

1. See if you are a marrow match.  It’s free and easy!
2. Donate money to help reach more people who can get tested.
3. Spread the word.

Why YOU are so important as a bone marrow donor?

Are You a Marrow Match?

• Between the ages of 18 and 55 and in good general health
• Not be severely under or over weight
• Not be HIV positive
• Not have severe heart disease
• Not have a personal history of cancer*
• Not have severe asthma (daily inhalers are acceptable)
• Not have diabetes requiring insulin
• Not have hepatitis
• Not have epilepsy
• Not have chronic or severe back problems or surgery.
• Not have autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis

* Cervical, breast and bladder cancer (stage 0) and cured skin cancer are acceptable.

What is my commitment if I register?

• Will also be listed on the national Be the Match Registry until your 61st birthday, unless you ask to be removed
• Will donate to ANY searching patient who needs a bone marrow transplant
• Will keep DKMS updated if your contact information changes

What is the donation process like?

• If you are found to be a match, a DKMS representative will contact you.
• You will answer a health questionnaire, and if all is fine, you will go on for additional testing. (blood test and physical exam)
• If you are still the best suitable donor, you will go on to donate in 1 of 2 ways.

1. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) – This procedure, called apheresis, involves receiving a medication that increases the number of the donor’s blood cells and then these cells are collected directly from the blood stream. Some donors have reported some bone or muscle achiness, but the side effects disappear shortly after the collection.
2. Bone Marrow Extraction – Marrow donation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, usually outpatient. With this procedure, the cells are directly collected from the pelvic bone. Most patients report some soreness in the lower back for a few days after the donation, but nothing that should prevent you from your daily activities. (No Heavy Lifting/Strenuous Workout).

Donate Money

Make a monetary contribution at www.dkmsamericas.org, or write a check made payable to DKMS Americas

Spread the Word

• Organize a bone marrow donor drive in your community, at your office or school
• Encourage eligible family members and friends to register with DKMS
• Join us on MySpace and Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Enter DKMS Americas.
• Help DKMS raise funds. Organize a fundraiser or go to Firstgiving.com and create your own DKMS Americas fundraising page

Can’t Make it to a Drive? Register Online Now!

You can also participate in our “virtual drive” anytime! Get involved in the cause by registering online right now at http://www.dkmsamericas.org/marrow-donor-form.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the donation process hurt?

During the bone marrow donation you are under anesthesia so you don’t feel anything.  Afterwards people generally feel discomfort and some pain in their lower back. We recommend that you take 1-2 days off after the donation as this is when most people will feel the most sore.  After that, many donors will continue to feel some discomfort when walking, standing, or sitting for long periods of time for 1-2 weeks after the donation, but nothing that would prevent you from your normal activities.  We don’t recommend any heavy lifting for up to two weeks to give yourself time to fully recover.

For the peripheral blood stem cell donation, where your stem cells are collected from your blood stream, most people will feel bone pain from the injections they take for 4 days before the donation. Many people will also have muscle aches and a headache at some point while taking the injections. It kind of feels like you are starting to catch the flu.  After you donate, you will probably also feel very tired, but all symptoms  go away within 1-2 days.  DKMS always follow-up with the donor.

Do I have a choice on which method? Which is better?

Well, when you are found to be a match, the patient’s doctor look at all the information and decides which method is the best.  There are a lot of factors that can make one method better than another depending on the situation so we wouldn’t know which way you would be asked to donate.  Because of that, we ask our donors to be comfortable with both methods of donation.  Do you understand the two ways you can be asked to donate?

Who pays for this? Will my insurance cover this? What if I don’t have insurance?

It costs DKMS $65 to register each donor, so we ask people if they can make a contribution towards that amount. Of course, if you can’t make a contribution, we can still register you at no cost to you. If you are later found to be a match, either the patient’s insurance, the national Be The Match Registry or DKMS will pay the costs.  If you have to travel any distance (even just using your car), we will also reimburse you for these out of pocket expenses. The best gift you can give is donating, so we don’t ask you to pay.

Do I have to travel if I am found to be a match for a patient?

We always try to schedule our donors at the hospital closest to their home that performs these donations.  Often, that is what happens.  But sometimes the hospital closest to your home is not available.  In those cases we ask our donors to travel to the next closest hospital that performs this procedure.   After they collect the samples from a donor, the product is delivered to wherever the patient is located.

Will I get paid for the time off I may need to take from work? At DKMS, if you are not covered by your employer and make under $24/hr, we have a financial assistance program that deals with lost wage compensation.  If you are found to be a match for someone we can give you more information on that program to help you.

Can I register if I am pregnant? You can still register to be a bone marrow donor, but we will temporarily block you as an active donor until at least 6 months after you give birth.  After that time, you will be re-activated on the registry.  Please inform the person at the registration table of your due date.