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Off topic: Bone marrow donors and other fun things
Habitual apologies for not having posted in awhile. Busy, etc, etc. Thanks again to Bree for keeping things afloat.
A few things: I’ve been lauding the idea of a redesign. The background here is tiring and a bit of a snooze. I’m thinking something completely nutty. We’ll see what happens.
If you think you’re someone who’d dig writing for LT, feel free to give me a holler. (Bree can’t do it all, y’know!) You get to use your STP link, and share with the world how things are according to you. If you’re interested, ping me (chris at this page dot com) and send along a sample or two of you not completely sucking at the written word.
Also, and totally unrelated: I was talking to Bree today about my recent registration with the National Marrow Donor Program as a bone marrow donor. I was inspired a few weeks ago when I saw a post on Metafilter about it, but didn’t just sit and do it. Then, I saw a particularly sad tale via Digg about a man whose sister is a match but refuses to donate to him. Absolutely charming. (You can read the full account here, but it’s a British paper and a bit of a sob story.) My thinking is along the lines of the following: If I turn out to be a match, and someone can stay alive at the cost of a rough day in the hospital and a sore hip for a week, we should be so lucky, right?
If it sounds like something you’re interested in signing up for, the system is pretty simple. You have to be over 18, and it’s not like donating blood: you’re called upon only when an incoming request for your tissue type comes in. It’s generally a donor-to-patient donation, instead of going into a “pool” or something similar. Barring any critical health problems, they’ll send you a kit with a few cheek swabs which you mail back for tissue typing. (This lets them find matches.)
I’d encourage anyone considering to please fully read through the materials before signing up. If you’re called upon to do it, and you’ve registered, I’m of the belief that it needs to happen. That is to say, don’t register if you’re not 100% willing. You’re put under general anaesthesia, and they go to town with a needle through your hip, into the bone. This really creeps me out, but I’ll be knocked out, right? You wake up with some soreness that generally goes away by the end of the week and that’s that.
You can find more information and register as a donor here. It usually costs $52 for tissue typing, but there’s an embedded promo code to make it free. Again, I’d encourage you to only register if you’re serious about donating, if you’re ever found as a match.
That’s my spiel for now. New shirts tomorrow, and I’m sure we won’t be disappointed.
Tags: bone marrow, donor, marrow, news, other stuff, t shirts, threadless, unrelated
Jai said,
April 3, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
What is the built in promo code? I would love to donate but cannot afford to pay.
Bryan said,
September 24, 2007 @ 11:25 am
I would like to sign up but don’t have the money. Can you help me with a promo code?
Thanks
Tamu said,
May 18, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
National Marrow Donor Program:
1 - Check if your insurance covers the typing cost.
2 - Donate platelets to offset the fee.
If you are Asian/African/Native/Hispanic/mixed ethnic heritage:
3 - Present yourself in person at a donor centre.
4 - Go to a subsidized bone marrow drive. Some will have a reduced cost or be free. Some will specifically be free for minorities and/or students. You can call in advance and find out.
If you are wondering why it is free in person for certain groups, it is because there are severe shortages for these groups and in some cases, people of certain backgrounds are much harder to find a matching type for.
Tamu said,
May 18, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
DKMS Americas: Pay nothing or what you can. Typing costs $65 but once you check if you are eligible, email info@dkmsamericas.org. Do not order the kit if you are not sure you are going to use it. If you haven’t paid for it, someone has, so don’t waste it.
Rachel said,
June 3, 2008 @ 8:31 am
I was very pleased to stumble upon this entry. My little brother had cancer for seven years and I don’t think most people realize that there is a way that they can save someone’s life. The $52 fee is merely a portion of the cost it takes to test and they are just attempting to offset their own costs a bit. I am already a member : ]