BY GUOWEI LI
On Thursday, February 6th, FHSU Student Health Center hosted the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow drive as a part of their public welfare activities at the FHSU basketball games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
One person in the world gets a blood cancer every three minutes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is one of the most effective methods to treat malignant diseases such as leukemia. Hematopoietic stem cell donation is a voluntary and gratuitous charity. Most patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family – and that’s when they turn to “Be The Match.”
If your DNA/tissue type twin gets sick and needs your help, you will be there to offer them hope and a CURE.
The Student Health Center especially need donors who are fully committed and willing to follow through when called. If you are from a diverse background, please consider joining. Patients are most likely to match someone of their ancestry.
According to brochures provided by the health center, many mistakenly believe that marrow donation is painful when in reality it’s not. While TV shows and movies have wildly exaggerated blood stem cell donation- especially marrow donation-as something scary, the reality is much less dramatic, Marrow donation takes place in a hospital under general anesthesia. Donors feel no pain or discomfort during the donation. This procedure is now outpatient. There is a small discomfort to save a LIFE.
During the activity, the staff explained to the volunteers patiently and offered help on registration. The volunteers actively participated in this meaningful activity. Meanwhile, Amanda Mccord, a registered nurse from the Student Health Center, made an appeal for more people to join the team of volunteer hematopoietic stem cell donors and bravely donate hematopoietic stem cells to save more patients with blood diseases. According to the introduction, any healthy person between the ages of 18 and 40 who is willing and supported by his or her family can become a bone marrow donor volunteer.