ABOUT BONE MARROW DONATION

Bone Marrow donation is the process of gathering blood-forming cells (stem cells) directly from the bone marrow through a surgical procedure. Donors are given anesthesia and doctors use needles to remove liquid marrow (where blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of donor’s pelvic bone. Donors feel no pain during the donation. After the procedure is complete the donor’s liquid marrow is transferred to the patient’s location for transplant.

Normally, the hospital stay for a donor last from early morning to late afternoon, but can be overnight is observation is needed. All procedures (bone marrow and PBSC donation) take place at a specialized hospital that has extensive knowledge in marrow collection for Be The Match.

Donor’s marrow levels will return to normal within a few weeks post donation, and because only 1-5% of a donors marrow is needed the immune system stays strong during this time and most donors can anticipate returning to work, school and most other activities within 1 to 7 days.

At the time of donation, donors are given detailed information about what to expect after donation and who to contact if questions or problems arise. Be The Match follows up with donors until they report a full recovery, regardless of how long it takes.