February 24, 2011 
I’d like to say that donating blood is a selfless act but that’s not entirely true. My real incentive is to get into the Guinness World Book of Records as the World’s Largest Blood Donor. With 6 pints donated thus far, I have a ways to go.
In the meantime, however, perhaps it can help me achieve another thing on my 101 Things to Do Before You Die list: #68 Save Someone’s Life. The Red Cross likes to say that every pint of blood can save 3 lives. There’s no way to know if any of my blood has saved a life, but I’ve arbitrarily said that after donating 4 gallons, it’s probably safe to say that I’ve saved a life somewhere along the way (if someone wants to actually run the numbers, I’d be glad to find out the likelihood of my blood actually saving someone’s life).
To increase my chances of marking off #68, I’m signing up for other ways to save a life.
I just signed up this week to Donate Bone Marrow. There is usually a cost associated with registering with the bone marrow donation database (When you sign up, you are sent a kit to do cheek swabs and then return. The $100 pays for the processing of this information into the database). However, for the month of February, Nordstrom is generously covering the $100 cost of adding a new member to the registry. It’s really a campaign to get more minorities into the registry, as those are of a higher need, but I took advantage anyway and joined for free. You should too. http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin
And when the time comes, I’m also interested in donating cord blood. After all, I won’t be using it; I don’t see why it shouldn’t go to help someone else.
I say most of this to be silly. While I have my own goals, I’m primarily motivated to help my fellow man. Having worked in non-profit land for much of my adult life, I typically have little interest in volunteering on my own time. At least this way, I can actually participate in the common good.
Do you donate blood regularly? Are you in the Bone Marrow registry? What are your thoughts about cord blood donations?
Uhoh, if you support stem cell research you’ll go straight to hell. KIDDING! but honestly-I saw some protestors lamenting about it the other day. Couldn’t help but wonder if THEIR kid was to one being saved if they would be on board. Good for you.
I can’t donate blood, I usually spend an hour after I do unconscious.
I stay away from politics and religion most of the time but I will say that I’m a Christian and I don’t really see a problem with it. If I didn’t donate it, it would be considered medical waste and the docs would throw it away, so might as well help somebody.
I donated blood the week before I ran my 26 training run and after 20, was really feeling exhausted. I mentioned that I had donated blood and everyone in my group started screaming at me. I didn’t think about the fact that the red blood cells carry oxygen and now I had less of them! #dummy
Ummm, you gave blood?!! Holy cow, I can barely walk 12 feet without getting tired.
I have always wanted to donate blood but I’m scared of getting poked! I am also paranoid what if something is wrong with me and they find it through my blood! Lol. Now reading my comment, my reasons sounded silly.
No, a lot of people are squemish around blood and needles. I have tiny veins and it hurts like a bitch when they stick me and THEN try to find the vein. And the last time I went, I was finishing up and the lady asked if she could place the bag on my lap while she finished unattaching all of the cords/tubes. I didn’t have a problem with it but she said most got freaked by seeing their blood in the bag. It just didn’t occur to me, I guess.
When I was younger I was really scared to donate blood, but now I’m just excited to get the chance to do so. Since I was rejected my first time because of my iron count, I’m counting down the days until the end of March when I’m allowed to go back! Not sure if I’d be able to donate bone marrow just yet as I’ve heard that’s quite painful, but maybe one day I’ll get the guts to do that too!
Have you been eating your nuts and berries and drinking your OJ?
I read up on the bone marrow donation and they put you under for the procedure, you feel no pain during, and you can expect a sore back for the next few days. Of course, this is what the Bone Marrow registry said about it so they may be underplaying it significantly. Can’t be telling people you’ll be in incredible pain and expect people to register!
Here in the UK, bone marrow donation is organised by a charity called the Anthony Nolan Trust. They cover the cost of registering (using a saliva sample instead of a blood sample as of this year) and transport/accommodation if you end up donating.
They have two methods of donation listed on their website, the one you mention where you get a general anaesthetic and the sample is taken directly from the bone, and a less invasive method where you’re hooked up to a machine for a few hours.
It gives you a drug to encourage the marrow to leave the bone and enter the blood. Your blood enters the machine, the marrow cells are separated and the blood is returned to you.
It’s pretty similar to the process for platelet donation (which you can do every month, rather than the 3 months between regular whole-blood donations).
They’re trying to get more men aged 21-30 on the register just now: http://www.anthonynolan.org/spit
You are so brave! I am terrified of needles and such and in college helped promote the blood drives to do my part since I couldn’t gather the courage to get poked! I want to be on the bone marrow list and never heard there being a cost? crazy. And I never knew about cord blood…I’ll have to read more about that. Although I am no were near having a baby or wanting to yet!
I didn’t know there was a cost either-I understand that there is some work going in to process the information but $100 is certainly a deterrent from registering. I think when they hold drives publicly, they don’t charge then.
Take my hat off to you giving blood. I dont know if i could do that or not. Everytime the doc or a nurse has had to take blood, they have had a horrid time of it trying to find a vein.
Frankie P
What a great thing to do. One of my friends lost his father and as an event they organized a blood drive to correspond with his birthday. That got me started giving blood and I now go when scheduled. In fact I have an appointment this weekend.
I’m definitely going to look into the Bond Marrow Registry. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, that’s the key; schedule the next one when you donate. I had to reschedule my Feb donation b/c of the new job but I’ve got one coming up March 7th.
I totally got the kid to sign up when I gave blood this week! Thanks for the inspiration!
*kit
Kudos to you for your blood donation! I really do think it’s a selfless gesture. May your next donation visit find you seated at a post-blood draw canteen that is fully stocked with all the Little Debbie treats your heart desires.
How did you know I love Little Debbie snack cakes? I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it…or perhaps you are just going on the assumption that everyone loves Little Debbie?
1. Donate Blood- Yes…I used to do it regularly…and the old hospital I used to work at had a room where we could donate blood, and afterwards, go straight back to saving lives.
I loved it because I knew the kids that I took care of would be getting my blood . I love telling the little gullible kids, “Today you are getting a ballerinas blood….so I expect you to be dancing later.” One time I convinced a 3 year old that she was getting Madeline’s blood straight from France. SHE TOTALLY BELIEVED IT! The next day she told me she could speak French. I, of course, am not allowed to donate blood right now since I traveled to Africa, and for a year was not allowed because…
2. I was a Bone Marrow Donor! I posted about my experience here: http://www.little-victories.net/2009/08/be-organ-or-bone-marrow-donor.html
As a Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse & Donor I just want to clear up a few things:
Nowadays…when you are called to donate chances are they will ask you for a peripheral stem cell collection (aka PBSC) and not bone marrow collection. Bone Marrow Harvesting is the surgical procedure where they sedate you and aspirate blood from your bone marrow. You are usually up and walking the very same day! It usually requires an overnight hospital stay. PBSC is typically done if you are donating to an adult, and bone marrow collection is typically if you are donating to children. This is mainly because of a risk for something called Graft versus Host Disease (when you donate they explain this all to you). PBSC is almost like donating blood, but they give you this medicine (shot) that helps boost the white cells in your blood several days prior to donating. Then they collect your stem cells using two IV’s and a huge machine. One IV takes your blood out and it goes through this fancy machine picking out your stem cells, and the other IV gives you your blood back. The cycle goes on and on for about 4-6 hours. You go home that same day.
Check your local blood bank if they have any local bone marrow drives. You can usually get swabbed for free at these drives (it is usually set up for a specific patient, and they get funds in order to defer the cost for participants). Because I am a minority I qualified to donate for an organization that raises money specifically for recruiting minorities to join the registry.
3. As for cord blood donations…I am all for it! I have seen lives saved by it! The mortality rate is higher with cord blood than having a matched sibling donor….but it gives family hope and knowing that they have done everything they possibly could to cure their disease. The more cords out there the more options we have to find the most perfect match for a patient. Adult patients usually need two different cords for a successful transplant, while small children only need one.
Seriously, donating my bone marrow (aka stem cells) has been one of the best things I could have ever done. When my procedure was done I was able to hold my bag of cells. I cried (happy tears) knowing I was giving someone a second chance at life. One year later I got a card from the lady I donated to saying I was an Angel. I cried like a baby when I read it. I’m hoping to meet her one of these days…wherever in the world she might be!
I have seen so many children die because they were waiting for their perfect match. To those that fear the pokes…imagine a little kid hoping to grow up one day, go to the prom, graduate college, get married, and grow old. The temporary discomfort is nothing when you really think of the big picture.
Okay…I must stop…I can talk about this forever! Can you tell that this is my passion? The NMDP should probably recruit me to be a spokesperson. Haha.
Wow CeCe thanks so much for your comments! I know there are a lot of misconceptions out there about bone marrow donation and I think a lot of people still think its the old way that hurt a lot (I know that’s what stopped me from registering for awhile). I’m so grateful for people that can work in the medical field; it’s something I know that I couldn’t do.
I actually love this item – it has been a lifelong goal of mine to give blood more than 104 times. I met a volunteer the last time I gave blood who was well into his eighties and had given blood 104 times before he had to stop for health reasons. It motivated me to do some of what you’re doing.
I’d say go right ahead and give bone morrow/ cord blood if you are healthy and willing. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your health and your schedule – I know someone who donates platelets every 2 weeks and it’s quite time consuming!
I have donated blood a few times before, but never appreciated the true significance of this act until my step-father was receiving treatment for cancer. He received many transfusions over the last several months of his life, and you could see the profound difference it made in him every time. It was as if someone was literally pumping the life back into him.
I haven’t donated for a while. I think it’s time I went back.
Thanks for the post!
It’s amazing when you can see the difference it makes. I take it for granted that it’s not really that big of a deal but to someone else it could be the biggest thing in their lives.
I don’t donate blood even though I could. In fact, the office where I work has regular blood drives in the lobby. The reason I don’t is because I hate needles and the last few times I’ve had blood taken out of me, I’ve almost passed out and I feel horrible for the rest of the day.
I’m more than willing to do other things to save lives. But donating blood is something I’ll have to sit out for now.
I’ve been an active blood donor since I was 18 and I signed up for the Bone Marrow registry last year! I know it’s not for everyone, but since I am able and willing, I think it’s an easy (well the bloods easy anyway) way to make a difference. I’ve never looked into cord blood donation, but I’d give it a shot! I think it’s great that you are so invested in this, Jessica : )
I’ve been avoiding doing this, but I really want to! It’s so easy, but I hate needles. I have a weird fear that I’m going to get infected with a disease everytime I get poked. Yet, I have a tattoo, so…no excuses!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up for the bone marrow registry. There are hundreds of people waiting for a bone marrow match in order to save their lives. My brother is one of them. You can read his story on his website racingtoregister.ca Without a stem cell transplant he only has a year or two to live. so, please, everyone get on the registry! It takes 5 minutes to do 4 cheek swabs and the process of donating the stem cells is as simple as giving blood. You could save someone’s life anywhere in the world! How amazing would that make you feel?
I gave blood for the first time this year. I was more nervous about not being accepted than the needle. I’m glad I finally did it.