Paul’s Story
Paul (31) is one of Ireland’s most decorated oarsmen, a champion cyclist and an Army officer. In 2012 he was diagnosed with refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, aged 28.
Paul is just one of thousands of people worldwide who need YOUR help.
Please register NOW, join the Bone Marrow Registry and someday YOU could be called to save someone’s life.
Register in Ireland Register in the UKWhy Donate?
We need more donors.
People in need of a blood stem cell donation are fighting life-threatening diseases such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Replacing their cancerous blood cells through a donation of new stem cells from a healthy matching donor can be a lifesaving treatment option for many of these patients.
Currently only 50% of patients in need of treatment match with a donor.
How do I get Involved?
Click on the Register buttons at the top or bottom of this page to find an application page for the UK and Ireland. If you are in the US please visit www.bethematch.org, in Australia go to www.abmdr.org.au or otherwise please contact your local health service to sign up.
Males between the ages of 16 and 30 are the most likely to be a match so please register and get your friends and family involved also!
Can I be tested for Paul or someone I know only?
While you may be motivated to join because of Paul or someone close to you, it is important to realise that the bone marrow registry is an unrelated registry facilitating transplants for both Irish and International patients.
By joining the Bone Marrow Registry, you may be selected to help any patient anywhere in the world.
Donation Process
If you match and choose to donate, most donors undergo a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. For five days leading up to the PBSC procedure, a donor receives injections (lasting 5 minutes a day) of a white blood cell growth hormone called G-CSF (Neupogen). On the fifth day, a needle is placed in each of the donor’s arms, and blood is circulated through a machine, which collects the stem cells and returns the unused portion of the blood back to the donor.
This collection takes about three hours and may be repeated on a second donation day. There is very little blood loss. Side effects with this type of procedure may include headaches, bone soreness, and the discomfort of needles in the arms during the process.
Although less common, a bone marrow harvest may be used. Bone marrow is taken from the donor’s hip bone during surgery. This procedure is done with anesthesia (medication to block the awareness of pain). Donors usually go home the same day and can return to normal activity within one week.
Common side effects of this type of bone marrow donation can include nausea, headache, and fatigue. These side effects are most often related to the anesthesia. Donors may also experience bruising or discomfort in the lower back.
It is important to note that most donors have minimal side effects. Bone marrow that has been removed is replenished by the body within four to six weeks.
A representative from the health care team will continue to contact the donor for several months after a bone marrow donation to make sure he or she has fully recovered from the procedure.