PLEASE help my girlfriend you could potentially SAVE HER LIFE! *UPDATE:01/31/2012*

[MonkeyMe]

Hi Everyone,

First off, I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to view this thread.
My girlfriend was diagnosed with leukemia (acute myeloid leukemia) back in December 2009, she went through 4 intensive months of chemotherapy and was in remission for the better part of 2010. Unfortunately, last month (January 2011), within a year of her first diagnosis her leukemia relapsed and was re-admitted back to the hospital for chemotherapy treatment. This time around though, chemotherapy won't be enough to save her life, she will require a bone marrow transplant to survive.

What can you do? All it takes is a simple and painless swab of the inside of your cheek.

Next registration opportunity will be at:

Toronto Chinese Community Church
Sunday February 5, 2012 (9:00am - 2pm)

@100 Acadia Avenue, Markham (Major intersection is Warden & Steeles)

Please bring a Canadian government issued health card

You could also visit our www.fight4krisy.com or Facebook page.

You can also learn more and register yourself on www.onematch.ca, a bone marrow and stem cell donor matching network.

Who can do it?
- Anyone between 17 and 50 years of age (covered under government health care, e.g. OHIP)
- In good general health (click the link to check eligibility)
http://www.blood.ca/centreapps/inter...o?OpenDocument


We have setup a Facebook page for her, please help us spread awareness and come out to register for the event or register online to have them mail you a swab kit.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fight...84675154900438

There's also a website that has been setup:
http://www.fight4krisy.com

Thanks!

[Stock R]

I got swabbed a few years back. It's quick and painless.

[Importspeed]

Please help out, this is a good cause. I've been swabbed and it was quick and painless. It takes no time at all!

[vaportech]

Didnt someone make this thread before?

[joep]

i also registered last year, it only took 10 minutes

[45ED]

Didnt someone make this thread before?

Yes.

Hello RFD,

I have been a long time member and have seen the RFD community come together for many causes.

I’m writing this for my close friend Kristina, known affectionately by her friends as Krisy, who is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her leukemia recently relapsed and she requires a bone marrow transplant. That’s why we need your help.

What can you do? All it takes is a simple and painless swab of the inside of your cheek.

Please register at an event being held on
Thursday, March 3rd between 2:40 to 8:30pm
Donald Cousens Public School
315 Mingay Ave, Markham, ON

You can also learn more and register yourself on www.onematch.ca, a bone marrow and stem cell donor matching network.

Why should you do it? Minority groups are hugely underrepresented within the global stem cell network. Asians, for example, represent only 3.8% of potential donors. The likelihood of finding a match is from one’s own ethnic group. I am asking for you to register as part of this database; while you do not get to know or choose whom you donate to, you could potentially save a life, maybe even Krisy’s.

Who can do it?
- Anyone between 17 and 50 years of age (covered under government health care, e.g. OHIP)
- In good general health (click the link to check eligibility) http://www.blood.ca/centreapps/inter...o?OpenDocument

For more information and future events please visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fight-...84675154900438.

Even if you are unable to register, please help us spread awareness and encourage others to join.

Thank you in advance and we hope to see you on March 3rd.

[vaportech]

Hehe adverts

[blue mountain raider]

just curious, anyone here done it before? the actual donation.

[MonkeyMe]

just curious, anyone here done it before? the actual donation.

Hey Blue Moutain, good question.

I've never been chosen to donate, but from what the doctor said there's two ways the hospital can extract stem cell's from your bone marrow:

1. This is the preferred method (80% of the time now they do this). Four to five days before the actual donation day they would give you some med's to excite the stem cell's out of your bone marrow and into your blood stream. On the actual donation day they would extract blood from one arm which would flow through a filtration device to collect the stem cells and the blood would flow back into the other arm. I believe it's like an hour or less process. It's pretty much like donating blood.

2. Second method (only used 20% of the time now because the first method is more efficient in collecting stem cells), they would put you under anaesthesia and draw stem cells straight from your bone marrow. Usually from your hip bone.

In both cases your stem cells will regenerate within 3 days.

[DipSheet2]

Hehe adverts

It's for the same person, don't be so insensitive!

[Jon Lai]

just curious, anyone here done it before? the actual donation.

+1

I don't mind getting registered and swabbed, but I would feel bad if I had been matched and asked to do a transplant, as I heard bone marrow transplant hurts really bad. I know you're saving someone but...

[45ED]

+1

I don't mind getting registered and swabbed, but I would feel bad if I had been matched and asked to do a transplant, as I heard bone marrow transplant hurts really bad. I know you're saving someone but...

As it's been said before, the temporary pain a donor feels pales in comparison to the pain that the recipient has felt, is feeling, and might feel should he or she fail to find a donor.

[MonkeyMe]

+1

I don't mind getting registered and swabbed, but I would feel bad if I had been matched and asked to do a transplant, as I heard bone marrow transplant hurts really bad. I know you're saving someone but...

Hi Jon Lai,

Yup, great question. I think there's a huge misconception about actually donating. A lot of people that I have talked to think that the actual donating process will cause you serious pain when it is almost a painless and simple process to save a life.
The second method I mentioned above will only cause you slight discomfort post surgery, you might feel a little bit sore but that's about it!

[stealth]

+1

I don't mind getting registered and swabbed, but I would feel bad if I had been matched and asked to do a transplant, as I heard bone marrow transplant hurts really bad. I know you're saving someone but...

Thats my understanding as well, but I could be wrong.

100% in favour of stem cell research/treatments however.

[stealth]

Hi Jon Lai,

Yup, great question. I think there's a huge misconception about actually donating. A lot of people that I have talked to think that the actual donating process will cause you serious pain when it is almost a painless and simple process to save a life.
The second method I mentioned above will only cause you slight discomfort post surgery, you might feel a little bit sore but that's about it!

so what is the surgical procedure, drilling into the hipbone and drawing the marrow from there?