DKMS – I become a donor
The decision to become a potential bone marrow donor was one of the most obvious for me, and becoming a donor and being able to save someone’s life would be an honor.
However, the hardest part was to mobilize and learn:
– is it safe to become a donor and
– how can I become a donor – this path turned out to be easier than I could have imagined.
I didn’t have to go anywhere, pay nothing. I have completed the application on the official website DKMS, and after a dozen or so days in my mailbox a package was waiting for me with a set of documents and sticks to collect saliva from the mouth.
Downloading material according to the attached instructions was child’s play. I have also filled out the 1 application form on the A4 page and packed the sticks with the return envelope, which is included in the kit. On the way to work, I threw it in a letterbox. Now I am just waiting for confirmation that I have become a potential bone marrow donor.
I have some interesting facts for you related to being a donor (information from the official website www.dkms.pl):
1. Myth:
Stem cells are taken from the spinal cord
Fact:
The concept of bone marrow and spinal cord is very often confused. When the stem cells are removed, the donor’s spinal cord is not affected. Stem cells are taken either from peripheral blood (the procedure lasts 3-4 hours) or from the iliac plate (surgery under full narcosis).
2. Myth:
Stem cells are collected during a complicated operation
Fact:
Stem cells are taken either from peripheral blood or from a hip plate. In approximately 80% of cases, stem cells are collected from peripheral blood. The procedure of collection using this method is performed outpatient and does not require a stay in the clinic.
3. Myth:
Stem cell donation causes damage to the donor’s health
Fact:
Within about two weeks, the donor organism regenerates stem cells spontaneously. Giving them to a sick person gives us a chance for a new life, without suffering any damage to health.
Within 10 years of registration, a maximum of 5 for 100 registered persons become a donor. During the first year of registration, only 1% young donors have the chance to become an actual donor.
Haven’t made your decision yet? Wondering what your chances of becoming a donor are? Is becoming a donor risky or painful? Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions:
6. I am registered in another donor database. Can I register in the DKMS Polska Foundation database?
A Have you ever wondered whether to become a donor?