I learnt something very important today. There are 2 methods of harvesting stem cells for transplant.
1. The traditional way of harvesting bone marrow from the spine pelvic bone. The process, as depicted on TV, looks like a painful one. And indeed, there will be some post-op pain on the lower back.
2. Stem cell harvesting. This process is similar blood donation and is almost painless. The difference from blood donation is that the process takes 6 hours, but it can be broken into 3 sessions.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m totally unaware of the 2nd method of harvesting. Frankly speaking, the thought of sticking a long needle into my spine gives me 2nd thoughts about donating bone marrow, even for a worthy cause.
I spoke to the folks from the Bone Marrow Donor Programme today after my blood donation. They don’t get many people who are even willing to talk to them, let alone signing up as volunteers. Many people have the misconception as I do.
I’m glad I learnt about this today, which removes all misunderstandings. So, I signed up as a potential donor today. I hope this clears the doubts in the rest of you. Do consider signing up as a donor for potential donation. All they need is to prick your finger and take a sample to register you as a donor.
Realistically, the chance of a match is not very high, so we might not be called up in our whole lifetime. But if in the event that anyone is being shortlisted, a life would probably be saved.
Please share this piece of important information with your friends now.
More details of the Bone Marrow Donor Programme can be found at:
The Bone Marrow Donor Programme
These are the dates and locations for the upcoming donation drives.
More dates can be found here.
23 Jan 10
Donor Recruitment : Tampines Central CC
24 Jan 10
Donor Recruitment : Eunos CC
26 Jan 10
Donor Recruitment : Republic Polytechnic
31 Jan 10
Donor Recruitment : Kolam Ayer CC
7 Feb 10
Donor Recruitment : Gek Poh Ville CC
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This is my CNY resolution, to donate blood regularly as a form of charity.
Strictly speaking, this is the not the first time I considered donating blood. The first encounter was when I was 17, still in JC. There was this blood donation drive in school. I didn’t donate because the freaking needle freaked the hell out of me. I wasn’t particularly scared of needles, perhaps it was the way I saw the them handle the needles. I stayed away from blood donation since. 
This time round, I made up my mind to overcome this 10 odd years of fear. I checked the Donor Web website and found that there’s a blood donation drive on at Rivervale Community Club on the 14th of March, Saturday. I woke up the following Saturday morning and drove me and my wife there. So, here goes, the first blood donation attempt.
The staff at the donation drive were helpful and pleasant. I was given a sticker that read “Be Nice To Me. This is my first donation”. In any case, I think they are nice to everyone, whether first time or not. So, my blood was tested, like a blood type test. On hindsight, this was perhaps the most painful part, relatively.
A local anaesthetic was administered, then came the thick needle. I was abit nervous then, but I looked on as the medical staff pushed the needle into my arm. No pain! While I was observing what the medical staff was doing, I didn’t realise that the bag was already half full. Pretty fast!
These are the few pictures I took while I was waiting.
And after a couple more mins, my bag was full. The removal was swift, no pain! And then they bandaged my arm.
They even had matching bandages for ladies!
The whole procedure was very comfortable, and fast, much faster than I thought. So, I have donated my first bag of blood. The next time would be in June.
I strongly encourage more people to donate their blood. As the slogan at Donor Web says, “Your blood is replaceable…a life is NOT !” Your pack of blood may save another’s life!
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