How To Save A Life: An Interview

In March of 2021, my brother Mathew donated bone marrow in hopes of saving a life. I decided to interview him on the experience.

How did you end up registering for Be the match?

When I was an undergraduate, I founded a fraternity, which I later became the vice president of. One of the responsibilities that came with being the V.P., was orchestrating the fraternities community service program. I reached out to DKMS who helps pair people together for donation. We would set up a table, swab people and send it out. I decided that since I was asking all these other people to sign up, that I should do it as well. I took a swab and three years later they reached out saying they had a match.

How old where you when you signed up?

I was nineteen.

What is bone marrow donated for?

I donated to someone who has accurate myeloid leukemia. Leukemia is blood cancer, and unlike other cancers that you can cut out, you can’t just get rid of all your blood. What you can do, is kill off the blood cells and original bone marrow then replace it with what has been donated.

How were you contacted?

They put it in the mail. They just sent you an email? No, they put it in the physical mail. I opened up an envelope and it basically said, "Time to cough it up buddy."

Why did you continue after being chosen?

I was already onboard with doing it when I originally signed up. I’m already fine with donating blood and the surgery option didn’t seem too bad. Also, when they contact you, it's because they have someone who is dying and I could save their life. I had the opportunity to help somebody, so I did it.

You’re currently applying to med school, did your decision to donate have anything to do with your interest in the field?

I think my interest in the field helped me make the decision. When people find out that the options are either being hooked up to a machine donating blood for four hours, or being put under so doctors can drill holes in you pelvis, it sounds scary. For me, since I’m educated enough in the field, I understand what the process is which makes it seem more reasonable.

From when you accepted, to the day of the surgery, how much time passed?

So when you are first contacted, they have you swab again to make sure you are a match. After, they need to make sure you are healthy enough to donate, which meant I had to fly to D.C. and have blood work done. Once it was confirmed that I could donate, they booked me a flight which ended up being cancelled due to complications. A month and a half later, they reached out again basically saying, “Hey! You ready?” I had to go and get bloodwork done again so that they could make sure I was still able to donate. In total, around six months.

What was the medical screening like?

It was awesome. You get a really in depth physical for free. Blood test, EKG, urine sample, the whole works.

What did the surgery entail?

There are two types. One is the blood test, where they give you a few injections a week before the donation to boost stem cells. You then are hooked up to a machine for four hours were your blood is being taken by the machine, the stem cells are extracted, then the blood goes back into your body. The one I did was the surgery in which they insert two needles into your pelvis. They put you under, drill two holes so that they can insert the needles, and suck the bone marrow out. It looks like a tomato smoothie. The most they can take out is 1500 millimeters worth, which is about three water bottles worth. They took 1200 from me, but it all depends one the density of your stem cells. Then they patch up the two little holes. I think they just slapped two band-aids on.

How long did the Surgery take?

I showed up at the hospital around 7:00am. They had me put on a johnny gown, talk to a few of the nurses, and the anesthesiologist, then rolled me into the operating room. I woke up after the surgery around 10:00am, so it took a total of three hours.

How did you feel immediately after the Surgery?

I felt awesome, but I was also on a ton of drugs. It took a while before they wore off, but once they did I mostly just felt stiff.

How long did you stay in the hospital?

They force you to stay overnight, have a slumber party with them, then they kick you out in the morning.

What did you do after leaving the hospital?

I was in D.C. on the first day of the cherry blossoms blooming, which is a very big deal, so the whole place was popping. I was with my dad, so he could sign me out of the hospital, and we decided to go to the MGM National Harbor Casino and we played blackjack. Then we went Shake Shack.

It has been 12 days since your surgery, how do you feel now?

I feel phenomenal. A little tired and foggy, but not in any pain. The first week I was stiff, uncomfortable and lethargic, but that is kind of what you can expect after donating that amount of bone marrow.

Are there any scars?

No, it just looks like a mosquito bite.

Do you get to meet the person who you donated to?

Yes, but not for a year. You get updates emailed to you about how the surgery went, six months after you get to be pen pals, then after a year, hopefully we will be able to play some blackjack together.

What was your least favorite part of the process?

Sleeping in the hospital. I had two IVs in, wires everywhere, bandages on and stuff. They check on you every hour; no privacy. I didn’t get any sleep the whole night. It was awful.

How did Covid affect you in the progress?

Well, the obvious like wearing a mask and getting tested and everything. They did ask if I was planning on getting any vaccines, which at the time nothing was out for Covid, so I answered no. On the second screening, I had to give them a call because, since I work in the medical field, I did get vaccinated. I needed to make sure the experimental vaccine wasn’t going to be an issue. Luckily, it turned out not to be.

What would you say to those who are interested in donating bone marrow?

I’d say do it. If you are looking into it, have an open conversation so you understand the options you have. Speak to a doctor, do what is best for you, but if you are interested in it, you should explore the options. You can literally save somebody’s life overnight.

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Thank you for reading! I hope this has been informative for anyone looking into donating. I have attached a link to my brothers fundraising page for Be The Match. All the money raised will go towards helping patients in need of a marrow transplant.