Be The Match

Today's blog post is kind of a serious one. I wanted to tell you guys about a decision that I have recently made. It's nothing too crazy, but something that I wanted to share with you guys.

I have decided to become a bone marrow donor. Why? I can't really give you a long thought out answer. The only answer that I can really give you is that it just seems like I am being called to do it. Now, I am not trying to get all spiritual and religious on you, but I don't know how else to describe it.

For the past couple of months, every time I turned around, I was hearing another story about someone who needed a bone marrow transplant to save their lives. And every time that I heard another story, I couldn't help but think, what if I am someones match? What if that person is out there, just waiting on me? What if I could be the person that donates and saves someones life?

There were so many what if's just running through my head that I decided that I needed to do some research. I wanted to find out more about how to become a donor and what that would entail if I was a match for someone. So I Googled "Bone Marrow Donation" and a website called Be The Match popped up. According to their website, "Be The Match Foundation^® raises funds to help patients who need a bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant find a donor and receive treatment." 

www.marrow.org

After finding their website and reading through all of the information that they provided on how you could become a donor and what that would imply, I decided that it was something that I wanted to do. So I signed up for my free registry kit and about a week later, it arrived. 

My registry kit

All that I had to do with my kit once I received it was to take four cheek swab samples; one on each side on the top and bottom. Once I took the cheek swabs, I attached the little bar codes to each swab stick and then put it back in the envelope to send it back. And that was it. Now, I just have to wait to see if I am a match for someone.

My kit after I completed the cheek swabs

I can't tell you how excited I am to find out if I am someones match. Knowing that I could potentially save someones life just gives me this amazing feeling of selflessness. 

It really is an easy process to become a donor. The actual donation part on the other hand will not be as easy, but I honestly could care less. If me having a little discomfort for a few days means that someone gets to have a second chance at life, how can I deny them that? I just can't!

Now I understand that this is not for everyone and this type of decision should not be taken lightly. I can't even begin to tell you how much thought I have put into my decision. But, I encourage you to think about it and to find out more information about it. You never know, you could be someones match. You could potentially save their life. 

For more information on how to become a bone marrow donor and the donation process, please visit Be The Match Foundation's website, www.marrow.org.