Image taken from: bethematch.org

Be the Match is an organization that is dedicated to bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow transplantation is when the spongy material inside your bones is taken out and put in someone else’s blood stream to help them create healthy blood cells. This transplant can help cases like: blood cancers, bone marrow diseases, and immune system or genetic diseases. In my mother’s experience, she signed up to potentially be a match about 10 years ago.  She recently was matched with a lady with a rare form of leukemia that has not responded to any treatments so far. My mother, instead of having to donate bone marrow, is donating stem cells which are inside your blood. Stem cells are cells that are like a blank canvas. They can become any part of the body. In order to be a potential match, her blood had to be tested to see if she was genetically compatible to the patient.  She had to have many blood tests done to see if she had any diseases that could hurt the patient. Once she was cleared, she had to have daily injections 5 days before the procedure to stimulate the production of stem cells in her blood.  Then, she was on to the last stage where she gave the stem cells. To have this procedure done, the nurse has to give my mother two IVs and hook her up to a machine which takes the blood out of one arm, takes the stem cells out of the blood, and returns the blood to the other arm. This will then be sent to the patient in need and hopefully help her on her way to getting better.

I think that people should join this organization so they could potentially save a life. Not everyone will be a match to donate bone marrow or stem cells to a patient but my mother was lucky enough to be able to help a patient. To help this organization, you can sign up to potentially donate bone marrow or stem cells or you can donate money to the organization so they can afford the transplants, match donors to patients, and make these transplants accessible to patients that need them. I personally think that this organization is amazing for connecting people in need with people that can easily help. I highly recommend that you or your parents join this organization to help save a life.

To sign up with Be the Match, go to:

Bethematch.org