Saving lives is not difficult: the stories of those who have already joined the register of bone marrow donors
Charitable Foundation "Ukrainian Register of Bone Marrow Donors" began operating in early 2018. Currently, there are 38 million people registered in the world who can be potential bone marrow donors, and there are already more than 4,000 Ukrainians in this register.
Currently, two types of bone marrow transplants are performed in Ukraine: autogenous or autologous - when the patient receives his own bone marrow, and allogeneic - from a family or third-party donor. For the first time , a bone marrow transplant was performed from an unrelated donor in Ukraine only in April 2020. Now there are already ten such operations.
We talked to Ukrainians who have already joined the register of bone marrow donors and talked about how this procedure works and why it is really very important.
"Sad from the passivity of a large number of citizens who are often under the influence of myths are not ready to try to help others"
Vladislav Samoilenko joined the register of bone marrow donors in April 2021. He says that after meeting volunteers from the Ukrainian registry of bone marrow donors, he was given an envelope with instructions and everything necessary to take DNA. They also orally told most of the details and asked for help in disseminating information about this type of still unpopular donation in Ukraine.
"At the time of our communication in January 2021 in the Ukrainian Register of Bone Marrow Donors (URDKM) there were only 3700-3800 donors (at the beginning of June there were 4124). We thought together about which thematic and active communities you can turn to for presentations of motivational stories and calls to join this type of donation. After that, a lecture was held for the ultras of Dynamo, who are quite active in the social sphere and gladly responded to such an initiative. Further, similar meetings were held with Heavenly Hundred lawyers and corporate companies such as MacPaw. Such presentations continue to take place for business, volunteer and other organizations. At all these events, URDKM volunteers give out envelopes with instructions and sticks to take DNA tests, ”says Samoilenko.
He says that his task was quite simple : - unpacked the envelope; - read the instructions; - wipe the inner parts of the cheeks with special sticks; - put used sticks in a special envelope ; - filled in a short questionnaire, which he also put in a special envelope; - packed up and sent by Nova Poshta to Ternopil to URDKM. "Within a few days, I received confirmation that my DNA had been obtained and that its testing was beginning. Actually, the procedure of taking tests lasted less than 5 minutes, everything is very simple and clear. Two months later, a letter arrived in the mail confirming that they had tested the tests and registered me as a potential bone marrow donor. "
- says Vladislav.
He added that he had not yet received an offer to become a bone marrow donor. And the expectations of when such an operation could take place are also unknown, because DNA is very different and we can wait for years for such a proposal.
"The most important thing was to be aware at the beginning of the procedure itself, which can happen if you receive an offer to actually become a bone marrow donor. Dispelling my fears, I realized that this is not a very complicated procedure, and it became clear to me, as a 37-time donor of blood and its components, that there are no risks to my life and health. Here I was more interested - and how does ordinary donation differ from this type of donation?
And yet, I am saddened by the passivity of a large number of citizens, who are often under the influence of myths, fakes are not ready to learn the truth or try to help others. I do not take into account people who are not healthy. Something has to happen at the cultural level, when more people understand that helping others, saving lives - it is not difficult and safe for ourselves. Of course, I would like to see more educational and promotional work (including blood donation, bone marrow donation) from state and municipal bodies, ”Vladislav Samoilenko concluded.
"Stem cell transfer is an easy, safe and painless procedure"
Serhiy Demtiv also joined the initiative in April 2021. He said that he has been a blood donor for two years, and the stem cell collection procedure is absolutely safe and painless, and in 80% of cases it is done by taking blood circulating through a vein.
"Blood donation has now become an integral part of my normal life. I will not change the world with my donation, but I can give another person a chance at life, ”says Serhiy.
He said he first filled out a test kit form on the bone marrow donor registry website , then received the test kit in the mail, read the instructions and did the test at home.
"I filled out the agreement and sent smears by Nova Poshta to the fund. Two months later I received a letter that I was considered a potential bone marrow donor. Stem cell transfer is an easy, safe and painless procedure, similar to blood donation, but lasts 4-5 hours, "Demtov explained.
Therefore, it is important to realize that bone marrow donation is not a very complicated and painful procedure for the donor himself. But it is really very important, because everyone can help save someone’s life.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Read also - Sacrificing bitcoins: digital currency in charity
Currently, two types of bone marrow transplants are performed in Ukraine: autogenous or autologous - when the patient receives his own bone marrow, and allogeneic - from a family or third-party donor. For the first time , a bone marrow transplant was performed from an unrelated donor in Ukraine only in April 2020. Now there are already ten such operations.
We talked to Ukrainians who have already joined the register of bone marrow donors and talked about how this procedure works and why it is really very important.
"Sad from the passivity of a large number of citizens who are often under the influence of myths are not ready to try to help others"
Vladislav Samoilenko joined the register of bone marrow donors in April 2021. He says that after meeting volunteers from the Ukrainian registry of bone marrow donors, he was given an envelope with instructions and everything necessary to take DNA. They also orally told most of the details and asked for help in disseminating information about this type of still unpopular donation in Ukraine.
"At the time of our communication in January 2021 in the Ukrainian Register of Bone Marrow Donors (URDKM) there were only 3700-3800 donors (at the beginning of June there were 4124). We thought together about which thematic and active communities you can turn to for presentations of motivational stories and calls to join this type of donation. After that, a lecture was held for the ultras of Dynamo, who are quite active in the social sphere and gladly responded to such an initiative. Further, similar meetings were held with Heavenly Hundred lawyers and corporate companies such as MacPaw. Such presentations continue to take place for business, volunteer and other organizations. At all these events, URDKM volunteers give out envelopes with instructions and sticks to take DNA tests, ”says Samoilenko.
He says that his task was quite simple : - unpacked the envelope; - read the instructions; - wipe the inner parts of the cheeks with special sticks; - put used sticks in a special envelope ; - filled in a short questionnaire, which he also put in a special envelope; - packed up and sent by Nova Poshta to Ternopil to URDKM. "Within a few days, I received confirmation that my DNA had been obtained and that its testing was beginning. Actually, the procedure of taking tests lasted less than 5 minutes, everything is very simple and clear. Two months later, a letter arrived in the mail confirming that they had tested the tests and registered me as a potential bone marrow donor. "
- says Vladislav. He added that he had not yet received an offer to become a bone marrow donor. And the expectations of when such an operation could take place are also unknown, because DNA is very different and we can wait for years for such a proposal.
"The most important thing was to be aware at the beginning of the procedure itself, which can happen if you receive an offer to actually become a bone marrow donor. Dispelling my fears, I realized that this is not a very complicated procedure, and it became clear to me, as a 37-time donor of blood and its components, that there are no risks to my life and health. Here I was more interested - and how does ordinary donation differ from this type of donation?
And yet, I am saddened by the passivity of a large number of citizens, who are often under the influence of myths, fakes are not ready to learn the truth or try to help others. I do not take into account people who are not healthy. Something has to happen at the cultural level, when more people understand that helping others, saving lives - it is not difficult and safe for ourselves. Of course, I would like to see more educational and promotional work (including blood donation, bone marrow donation) from state and municipal bodies, ”Vladislav Samoilenko concluded.
"Stem cell transfer is an easy, safe and painless procedure"
Serhiy Demtiv also joined the initiative in April 2021. He said that he has been a blood donor for two years, and the stem cell collection procedure is absolutely safe and painless, and in 80% of cases it is done by taking blood circulating through a vein. "Blood donation has now become an integral part of my normal life. I will not change the world with my donation, but I can give another person a chance at life, ”says Serhiy.
He said he first filled out a test kit form on the bone marrow donor registry website , then received the test kit in the mail, read the instructions and did the test at home.
"I filled out the agreement and sent smears by Nova Poshta to the fund. Two months later I received a letter that I was considered a potential bone marrow donor. Stem cell transfer is an easy, safe and painless procedure, similar to blood donation, but lasts 4-5 hours, "Demtov explained.
Therefore, it is important to realize that bone marrow donation is not a very complicated and painful procedure for the donor himself. But it is really very important, because everyone can help save someone’s life.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Read also - Sacrificing bitcoins: digital currency in charity