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5 Steps to Save a Life

1
Learn, Swab, Save Lives
All it takes is a cheek swab to join the registry - you now have a chance to be someone’s hero.
2
Confirmatory Typing
In the future, you may be called as a potential match for a patient. If so, you will be asked to have a blood test.
3
Work-up
If your blood test is a match, you will have a physical exam to ensure you are in good health and fit to donate.
4
Donation
You will donate either blood stem cells or bone marrow.
5
Transplant
Your donation is transplanted into the patient.

Step 3: Work-up

Once your match with the patient is confirmed and you agree to proceed, you will have an information session to fill in all the details about your donation, and you will have several medical tests to ensure that you are in good health to donate. 

Two young women sit at a desk talking, one is explaining something while the other holds a pen and takes notes. This illustrates the Donor Information Session that Gift of Life has with every donor when they are called as a match for a patient.

The Information Session

You will participate in an Information Session with your Gift of Life Donor Services Coordinator, who will explain the donation process in detail and answer all your questions answered. You will discuss the entire process including potential risks, benefits and the time commitment. We encourage you to ask questions and have a family member or friend listening with you for additional support. We will be happy to provide you with the names and numbers of prior donors who are willing to share their experiences with you. We will also put you in touch with an independent Donor Advocate who can provide you with additional information on the donation process. We want to ensure that all your questions have been answered, so don’t hesitate to ask..

Expenses and travel

There is no cost to you for being a donor! Gift of Life covers the costs of your physical examination, transportation, accommodations, or the stem cell or marrow collection itself. You may submit receipts for meals and other incidental expenses for reimbursement – your Donor Services Coordinator will tell you the maximum amount you can claim. If you do receive a bill related to the collection, you should forward it to your coordinator. 

A doctor is holding a clipboard with a report on it and talking to a young woman. This illustrates the Medical Testing step that every donor participates in when preparing to donate stem cells or bone marrow with Gift of Life Marrow Registry.

Medical testing before donating

After the information session, a physical exam will be scheduled at no cost to you. This examination is to protect your health as well as that of your potential recipient. We will work with you to schedule your physical at a location near you. This evaluation will take about two hours and is required to determine your eligibility and suitability to donate

The physical exam includes:

  • A health history
  • Complete blood count
  • Blood chemistry profile
  • Blood tests for infectious disease markers, including HIV, syphilis, HTLV, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis, Chagas (trypanosomiasis), and others
  • A urinalysis (optional)
  • An electrocardiogram to check your heart (optional)

Once you receive your medical clearance, the donation can go forward. You will be asked to refrain from risky activities that may result in injury – someone else’s life now depends on your safety!

Commitment to donate

After you have indicated your intent to donate, the patient begins to prepare for the transplant. Approximately one week before the transplant they will undergo pre-transplant conditioning (using chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) that wipes out the bone marrow in preparation for the transplant. At this point, without the donation of your cells, the patient will not survive.

Why was my donation cancelled? 

In some instances, there is a chance that your donation will be cancelled. Some causes for cancellation include the possibility the patient responded well to treatment, decided to join a clinical trial, or perheps they are not in a condition where transplant is possible at this time. While it can be disappointing to come so far and not donate, please be aware that this can happen. 

Please click below to go to the next section and learn about the donation process.