National Marrow Donor Program

[asterroc]

Dear LJ,

No I'm not going to register to donate bone marrow. Yeah I know that every person on the registry represents a chance at a saved life. I even know that as a multiracial person, my bone marrow's much more desirable. But it scares the shit out of me. Yes I read the myths and facts, donation FAQs, when you're contacted as a possible match, and everything else on Be The Match / National Marrow Donor Program - I read it all hoping I'd get over it. But it still scares the shit out of me. You can stop inviting me now.

You can take it when I'm dead, though. I've got a nice little "organ donor" thing on my driver's license, and I've told my family and significant other that I'll donate everything but my brain. So if my bone marrow's still useful when I'm dead, please do take it then.

Hearts and livers,

Zandperl

Comments

[oh-chris.livejournal.com]

It scares the shit out of me too.
I didn't mean to come off all preachy.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I seriously thought about it, I really did, and decided not to and moved on. And then someone on FB also nagged/tagged me about it - where they really have to pick YOU to invite, not just "my whole list of friends".

General anesthesia is NOT my idea of a fun time. I'll help the human race in other ways, thank you.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

So I've never read about bone marrow donation, but I had never imagined it required being put under general for. Erk. o.O (I've been under general for surgery, and I suspect the fasting before hurt me more than the anaesthesia itself.)

Meh. I'm O- and have never donated blood; I make the excuse that I don't meet the weight requirements, but honestly, my veins go flat and hurt so quickly during routine small medical draws, that I can't imagine going through a blood donation draw without a LOT of pain, so I'm not willing to skirt the weight rules and try anyway.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my veins close right up when I get a needle in me, so it takes more than an hour to get enough blood out for it to be useful. I also get really lightheaded b/c the veins in my head also close up and restrict blood flow to my head, so I need a designated walker afterwards. Because of this, it takes me a full half day to donate, and 24 hours to recover. I've only donated like two or three times as a result.

[jennekirby.livejournal.com]

Where/how are you being invited?

I actually made up my mind a week or so ago, completely unprompted, that I am finally un-scared enough of general anesthesia to be on the registry (and, uh, finally eligible because I lost weight, though I never knew I was ineligible before), but haven't taken action yet; seems like an odd coincidence that it's coming up here.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

One of my LJ friends (above), and Facebook. I'm just oversensitive and b/c it's something that's the right thing to do, but I'm just SO squicked out by it.

[jennekirby.livejournal.com]

Eh, but you are right that there are lots of ways to be useful to people, so from where I'm sitting it doesn't mean anything bad about you. I do understand why it would make you oversensitive, though (it reminds me of a friend who has O- blood but for whom donating blood is a massive ordeal that I wouldn't wish on anyone--she basically can't do it but feels guilty for not trying anyway).