Why should I donate bone marrow?

Am I eligible to donate bone marrow?

What is the process for donating bone marrow?

Watch patient and donor's videos.

Contact Us Regarding Bone Marrow Donation

 

Why should I donate bone marrow?

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Every year, thousands of adults and children need bone marrow transplants, a procedure that may be their only chance for survival. Although some patients with aplastic anemia, leukemia or other cancers have a genetically matched family member who can donate, about 70 percent do not. These patients' lives depend on finding an unrelated individual with a compatible tissue type, often within their own ethnic group, who is willing to donate marrow. For more information, please visit the National Marrow Donor Program Web site at www.marrow.org.

Click here to read a touching letter from a bone marrow donor.

Am I eligible to donate bone marrow?

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Donors joining the NMDP Registry must be between 18-60 years old, in good health and meet the NMDP donor eligibility guidelines. Donors who are not eligible to join the national registry can help patients in other ways such as making a financial contribution to tissue type other donors.

What is the process for donating bone marrow?

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If you match the tissue type of a patient seeking a donor, additional testing will confirm the results and you will meet with marrow donor counselors who will help you make an informed decision about donating marrow.

The marrow collection process usually does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. The procedure itself is painless because it is performed under anesthesia. But for an average of two weeks following the procedure, most donors experience sore hips and some must restrict their activities. Most donors also report that donating marrow is a very positive experience. Many marrow donors are willing to donate again in the future.

 

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Terrell- A young man lost his battle with leukemia after being unable to find a bone marrow match.  His inspiring story encourages others to join the registry.   Watch Video

Elyse- Elyse is studying medicine at the University of Florida after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant as a teen.   Watch Video

Caitlyn- A Volusia County teen starts college thanks to receiving a bone marrow transplant from a donor on the registry.   Watch Video

Sydney- A young girl saves her sister’s life by donating bone marrow.   Watch Video

George- A Palm Beach Gardens Fire Fighter donates bone marrow.   Watch Video

Mark- A Walgreens Manager donates bone marrow years after joining the registry.   Watch Video

Sam- When 20-year-old UCF student Sam joined the National Bone Marrow Registry at a blood drive in high school he really didn’t think that much about it and figured he might be able to help someone in need.  He says he was surprised when a representative called him about a year later saying he was a match for a patient in need of a bone marrow transplant.

 

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Marrow is a substance found inside bones. It resembles blood and contains stem cells, which produce red blood cells, white blood cells and other blood components important for fighting infection, carrying oxygen and helping to control bleeding. Stem cells, the cells that transplant patients need to make new healthy marrow, usually live in bone marrow, but are also released, in small numbers, into the circulating (peripheral) blood. There are several treatments that will dramatically increase the release of stem cells into the circulating blood so that enough stem cells for transplant can be collected directly from the bloodstream.

 
 

Contact Us Regarding Bone Marrow Donation