Are you on The List?

[SoxFan]

I am.

Sign up for the national bone marrow donor registry. You just might save someone's life.

http://www.lovehopestrength.org/site/bonemarrowdonor/

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. Excellent idea! K&R

thanks for the link :hug:

[blaze]

2. Yep!

Been on it for quite a few years.

Been a blood donor for a LOT of years, and signed up that way.

The site you linked to suggests that a donor fee is usually required.... is that normal? I've never heard of that before.

[SoxFan]

6. That I don't know

I am new to the list, and as a white guy of Irish descent, I'm part of a big pool and probably won't be called for a while. I'll ask around and see if I can get an answer for you.

I signed up at a concert as part of Love Hope Strength's outreach program. They took a DNA swab and had me fill out some paperwork, but there was no fee involved, at least at this stage of the process.

[Rosie1223]

3. Yes

I lost a co-worker to leukemia last year. The entire office signed up.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I was on it, but now I'm too old...

I think you have to be under age 60 to qualify.

Still, I was glad to be there, just in case.

Recommended.

[blaze]

8. Interesting

I hadn't heard that age limitation before.

OK all you marrow needers!!!!! You have four years to snag this stuff!! :)

[dflprincess]

14. The link in the OP list requirements to be a donor and that says under 55 n/t

[NanceGreggs]

9. Same here ...

... I signed up when I was in my late thirties - but got a form letter after my sixtieth birthday, explaining that marrow from over-sixties donors has proven to be problematic.

A friend of mine has donated three times. One didn't "take", the second recipient died of (unrelated) complications after the transplant.

But the third recipient, who was sixteen at the time, fared extremely well. The donor was allowed to send a letter to the recipient - to be opened and responded to, if she wished, when she turned eighteen.

He said, "If you developed a sudden craving for Chinese take-out and watching old classic movies after your transplant, well, now you know who to blame."

She chose to respond, and they became pen-pals (she lives in a distant city). A few years ago, she invited him to her wedding, and introduced him to family and friends as one of the most important members of her "family".

When she gave birth to her first child, he was as proud as the proverbial peacock.

The gift of life - receiving it is a godsend; giving it is its own reward.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. that is a wonderful circle of life story. thanks for sharing it.

:grouphug:

[NanceGreggs]

12. The story is my friend's tale to tell ...

... but I take a certain joy in being able to share it with others.

He and I played on the same Trivia League for eighteen years or so. He was one of those non-descript, never-noticed guys - until word-of-mouth (my big mouth among others) contributed to his well-deserved local hero status.

In addition to his own personal contribution, his story inspired several other Trivia League members to sign-up on the bone marrow registry - so he may have saved a few more lives than even he knows about.

So it is a Circle of Life story, indeed ...

[DailyGrind51]

5. The NBMDR was originally funded by the US Navy at the strong advocacy of Admiral Zumwalt,

when his son was diagnosed with both Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma after Dioxin exposure in Vietnam.

[SoxFan]

7. LHS

Love Hope Strength was founded by Welsh rock singer Mike Peters (The Alarm), a lymphoma survivor.

It's always inspiring when people are able to turn tragedy into positive action.

[Warpy]

10. I would but they don't want mine

They don't want my blood, kidneys, liver, heart, or even my corneas. The reason they don't want them is why I'd be perfectly happy to donate to Dick Cheney.

However, if you can sign up, please do. Bone marrow donation itself will leave you a little sore for a few days, but it can save a life.

[sohndrsmith]

13. I'm not allowed - or I would be... : ( Genetic blood disorder. Can't give

much of anything.... I'm sorry!... : (