4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Suzy]

Hi,

 

My little brother (OK, so he's 33 and 6ft 4 so not that little!) rang me today and told me that after tests he has been matched to donate bone marrow.

 

He's told me the basics, and I've done some research on the internet and it sounds quite scary. I would love to hear from someone who either has been through what he's about to go through or knows someone who has. I am asking also as (a) any reassurance I can give our mum and (b) any reality info I could give him would also be really helpful.

 

Thanks

 

Suzy

[Redwing]

What a hugely selfless and remarkable thing for your bro to do

 

Unfortunately my father gave bone marrow to himself, they took it then gave it back to him after chemo and I do know that it was not pleasant for him sorry not what you wanted to hear I expect

[hilda-and-evadne]

Please tell your brother that he is doing a wonderful thing. My younger brother was diagnosed with a rare leukaemia more than two years ago. Treatment with drugs failed to contain it. Neither of his siblings (myself and my other brother) was a suitable donor but, amazingly, a suitable donor was found straightaway on the Anthony Nolan Register. He received a cell transplant at the end of January. All we know about the donor is that he is a young man in his 20s in America, and we are profoundly grateful to this person we will never meet for giving my brother another chance.

[craftyhunnypie]

Hi - I used to work in Pathology & had to de calcify the bone marrows. They are quite thick really & the only way I can describe what they look like is ..when a fish does a poo.

 

I think it is a wonderful thing to do. I do believe that it is quite painful, as it is quite a thick needle into the bone. (Ouch).

 

Emma.x

[Snowy]

Yes I agree, it is a wonderful thing to do. I've only experienced it from the nursing side (and that was many years ago!). It is painful, but is over quickly, and is an amazing gift. Well done to your brother

[Seagazer]

I only know from my cousins being tested to see if they could donate for their sister, which unfortunately they couldn't.

 

It is a great thing your brother is doing and I hope it all works out ok.

[poachedegg]

Well done to your brother! Hope everything goes ok.

[clootie]

Very well done to your brother !! I've been on the list for years, no-one wants mine and I'm probably too old now *sniff*

[BeckyBoo]

Very well done to your brother !! I've been on the list for years, no-one wants mine and I'm probably too old now *sniff*

 

 

Same. And I've heard that it is painful, but then what an amazing thing he is doing. I don't think the risks for donating are any worse than for any other surgery, just the regular general anaesthetic risks.

 

Well done him, and just think that somewhere out there is someone he may never know who's life is, hopefully, about to change beyond all recognition.

 

BeckyBoo

[Cooks]

well done your brother, the world needs more people like him.

[theherd123]

well done your brother, the world needs more people like him.

 

 

Ditto - very selfless indeed

[Suzy]

Thanks for all your comments - I will pass them onto him.

 

It's reassuring that no one had any scary stories about it. He's in in July and is already making preparations as to who will look after him on what day - in his words.... ferrying ice cream to me whilst I lay on the sofa!

 

Please tell your brother that he is doing a wonderful thing. My younger brother was diagnosed with a rare leukaemia more than two years ago. Treatment with drugs failed to contain it. Neither of his siblings (myself and my other brother) was a suitable donor but, amazingly, a suitable donor was found straightaway on the Anthony Nolan Register. He received a cell transplant at the end of January. All we know about the donor is that he is a young man in his 20s in America, and we are profoundly grateful to this person we will never meet for giving my brother another chance.

 

Rachel, does your brother know that after 2 years the Anthony Nolan Trust release records to both parties so they can get in touch. Well, that's what they've told my brother. Might be something your brother would be keen to look into. I think they tend to wait for the patient to make the first move.

 

Thanks all,

 

Suzy

[Willow]

Well done to your brother.

 

I looked into going on the register a few years back but there are quite a lot of restrictions especially if you have children

[Tulip]

I'm on the register and have been called in a couple of times for tissue-typing but have never been the closest match for the patient

 

They tell me there's a new method in some Trusts whereby the donor is injected once a day for a week or two which brings all the marrow cells out into the bloodstream. The donor then spends a day hooked up to what sounds to me much like a dialysis machine - it takes the blood out of one arm, filters out the marrow and then pumps the blood back in. Supposed to be a bit less harsh on the donor than a full-on general.

[Phonix]

I'm on the register and have been called in a couple of times for tissue-typing but have never been the closest match for the patient

 

They tell me there's a new method in some Trusts whereby the donor is injected once a day for a week or two which brings all the marrow cells out into the bloodstream. The donor then spends a day hooked up to what sounds to me much like a dialysis machine - it takes the blood out of one arm, filters out the marrow and then pumps the blood back in. Supposed to be a bit less harsh on the donor than a full-on general.

 

 

This is very similar to how it was explained to me.

 

After seeing a friends dad go through chemo for leukemia and hearing that he may nead a marrow transplant (thankfully he hasnt had to yet and fingers crossed he'll stay in remission) I decided to register. I went along to the blood donor stuff in order to start that too and got really really upset because they couldnt get the needle into my vein to even get the blood out that was needed to send away to be on the register, never mind to get enough to be a blood donor.

Ive just finished all my exams and stuff now so off to try again soon and if still no luck then I'll try through the Anthony Nolan trust

 

x

[Phonix]

This just kick started me into rethinking about this so thank you Suzy. Have a look at this link:

 

http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/donating/howtojointheregister/how-to-join-the-registerstage1.htm

 

Lots of useful info on the site and especially in the leaflet

 

x

[hilda-and-evadne]

Rachel, does your brother know that after 2 years the Anthony Nolan Trust release records to both parties so they can get in touch. Well, that's what they've told my brother. Might be something your brother would be keen to look into. I think they tend to wait for the patient to make the first move.

 

Thank you - I don't yet know if he knows that. It is still very early days, and he is being prayed for in at least three churches. I hope it will all come right: he has four children, and the two youngest are still at school.

[Guest]

HI

 

There are a couple of different ways to collect marrow there is direct from the marrow and it may cause stiffness or bruise like symptons afterwards but they do give you anaesthetic/painkillers(I dont remember anyone screaming having this done..its more the pushing and pulling) but pain free when they do it, and the other is the peripheral way as described previously. If it was torturous there wouldnt be any donors at all giving so reassure your brother he will be given pain relief etc. Just stiff after particularly if it is out of the bone.

 

Either way what a great gift to give someone, my friend was looking for her leukaemic 2 year old before and at the time Anthony Nolan bone marrow matching didnt exist, but it is a great scheme. Easy to join, my husband is Asian so I made him go as they are always short of ethnic donors.

 

Good luck, how fab to know you could save someones life and give them a chance

 

indie

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

I arranged for Antony Nolan last year to do a bone marrow session at the College where I work getting the students to give a blood sample and sign up. They were explaining to potential donors that the collection method had progressed and is quite often the method Tulip describes which is relatively painless.

 

I've been on the register for 15 years and would be honoured to do what your brother is able to do. Well done to him.