http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSCyz8F_kuo&feature=youtu.be Evidently, and I didn't know this, bone marrow matching is more difficult for minorities, because the sample size is smaller. It's a very touching video, though. I hope she finds a match, and I hope this video is seen by as many people as possible.
In Asia, its easier for Asians to find bone marrow matches than White, Black, Hispanic people. Edit:: didn't see video.. that is sad. wish I could do something to help her.
Here it is, embedded: <object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSCyz8F_kuo?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSCyz8F_kuo?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
This problem has been going on for a long time. I have a friend who works for a group advocating organ and tissue donations in the Asian American community and this problem is being slowly addressed.
This is sad. I think lots of people are scare when they hear the word "bone marrow" so they won't even bother going out to check to see if they are a match. I blame it on the system because they need to make it aware that there is a new testing which is call a spit test/saliva test. I wonder if this technique is being use widely around the world to speed up the process. If the spit/saliva test are being use I think it should be mandatory for everyone to either take and collect it at school, workplace, family doctors or a quick walk to a pharmacy or Hospital.
No you need all donors to be willing to give when someone needs it. The timing of donation is extremely important. The donation process is medically nothing. It is similar to platelet donation where they hook you up to a machine and you just sit there for a while. Chinese are seriously under represented in the registry. If you are chinese you are very much needed. http://marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx
I still think it should be a mandatory for people to register and not waiting for the last second thing. That way you have a more wide data base to look for. I think there should also be a government grant/reward of some sort if you are the matching donor and the procedure work and save that person's lives. That way it encourages people.
We do it here on campus at UH. A simple cotton swab and paperwork is all you need to do. If you're a potential match, the blood work guys will give you a call and get a sample in order to verify. You'll be going under if you're a match, so there's absolutely no pain or anything to worry about.
This isn't true. Most of the time there is no surgery at all. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2bTCSslVmKs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> WORST case scenario is local anesthetic <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YV0_a9y583U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Interesting, I knew that PSBC donations were nonsurgical/outpatient. I know that marrow donations occur at the hospital, where they draw fluids from your pelvic bone, so it can be pretty painful, so I figured they put you under. In any event, this is even more encouraging for people to donate! No pain, all gain, baby.
I gave bone marrow and it wasn't as bad as the video says. They gave me a local anesthetic and I was able to do normal activity as I left the room. I felt like I had a Charlie horse. I didn't even know that there were race limitations on marrow.
Bump, just in case anyone missed the thread, and maybe someone could tweet this to Arian Foster. He has around 150,000 followers, and that could really make a difference.
