June 9, 2014 at 3:41 p.m.
How to save a life: Bone marrow held drive at RHS
How to save a life: Bone marrow held drive at RHS
By Kayla Thomason-
It was a painless procedure for those being screened. Four cheek swabs were taken from each potential donor.
"I've been donating blood and in the fall I'm donating my kidney to my aunt," said potential donor Jason Hall. "I saw this on the news so I decided to come and stop by."
If someone is a match they will be contacted by The Community Blood Center in Appleton. A blood test will follow to confirm that they are the best match for the patient.
Of all the people who are tested only a small number - one in 500 - are a match for somebody else.
"Every person that joins no matter (if they are a) match or not, they are providing hope and to us that means the world and to those patients that are searching," said Kelli Vander Wielen, community engagement specialist with The Community Blood Center.
The samples will go with Vander Wielen to Appleton. From there they will be sent to a repository in Minneapolis where they are stored until the donor turns 61 years old. It costs about $100 for each donation to be tested.
It takes a few weeks to process the samples and determine if anyone tested matches a person in need of bone marrow. Scientists look at the HLA, antigens and alleles of a donor when they match donors to patient.
"They try to match you as close as possible to who you are and then they try to match so many DNA markers, the better the match the more successful the transplant would be," said Bob Willging.
Willging's life was saved in 1999 following a bone marrow transplant.
Doctors spent a few months testing his siblings but none were a match. Fortunately, three matches were found through the donor registry.
Willging's daughter, Molly spent three months putting the Rhinelander event together.
"I don't think people are real aware [of the need for bone marrow donors] because you hardly ever see a bone marrow drive in the Northwoods," Bob Willging said.
Someone who donated on Saturday could be called 20 years from now and told they are a match for someone.
"If you get matched they really hope that you follow through and be a donor," Willging said.
Those 18 to 44 years old are requested over 90 percent of the time to donate, according to Vander Wielen.
"When someone does this portion, we want them to understand that if they are called they could be the only person at that point that could save this person's life so their commitment going forward with that donation is really, really important," Vander Wielen said.
If someone is a match there are two ways stem cells can be collected.
About 75 percent of the stem cells are taken from the blood. The donor is given a shot five days before they donate. Once the day comes they are hooked up to a machine for 5 to 7 hours.
The other 25 percent is taken directly from the lower back and, unlike how television and movies portray it, the patient isn't awake and screaming.
"They are under general anesthesia. A lot of people think they are wide awake, they're not, they're sleeping," Vander Wielen said.
One year after donation the recipient and donor can meet for the first time, if both agree to it.
The donor program is a national registration, so someone who donated at RHS could save someone in Florida or elsewhere.
"We are very, very excited to be in the community and are so appreciative of the support from the Key Club here at Rhinelander High School, the teacher advisor and, of course, Molly, who really helped make this all happen, and her dad Bob," Vander Wielen said.
If only one person who participated in Saturday's drive turns out to be a match, it will be a success, Willging said.
"One thing that is important is for underrepresented groups to get on the registry, like Native Americans and African Americans because there are not a lot of (them) - percentage wise. Those underrepresented groups suffer the same types of blood cancers and can benefit and to have that really good match toyour racial heritage is important," he said.
The Community Blood Center houses the "Be the Match" program.
Call Vander Wielen at 800-280-4102 ext. 6663 for more information on being a bone marrow donor. Vander Wielen also encourages people to donate blood this summer.
"I also want to encourage people to donate blood, our community blood center is always in need of blood, especially during the summer months because people are on vacations. They are busy with summer plans but the need for blood never takes a vacation so if someone can call our blood center and donate blood this summer that would be great," Vander Wielen said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.