This is one of the three biggies for me, Blood, Organ, and Bone Marrow donation. Donating these things doesn't cost you a dime, just a little time to sign up and perhaps some inconvenience. Shelly Feigenbaum wrote me this message which highlights the importance of this easy life saving gift:
I don't remember if I told you, but 2 years ago, by younger sister Shawn was diagnosed with Leukemia. She was told she had 3 years to live......unless she received a Bone Marrow Transplant. The family was tested, and none of us was a good enough match to donate Marrow. A one in a million match was found through the Bone Marrow Registry. A total stranger donated their marrow to save my sister's life. It is now 2 years later, and Shawn is healthy and cancer free. It would be great if you can urge all your members to have their marrow tested and entered into the Registry. All it takes is a simple blood test. This can be done for free at any Bone Marrow Drive, or small fee at your local blood center. For more info see the following link:http://www.marrow.org/ FYI: Last year we were able to meet the donor. (you need to wait a year after the BMT). She said she would do it again if asked. My family thanked her by making sure that all of us were entered into the Registry.(so we may help someone else in the future!). We also donated money in her honor to the Cancer Hospital that performed the Transplant.
I know there's a lot of talk about how painful bone marrow donation is, but I'm told that in reality, it's not that bad. Also, the likelihood of you ever being called is very very small. That's the problem with bone marrow, the odds of finding a match are literally one in a million which is why we need to get as many people as possible signed up and registered as donors. People die each year waiting for a donor, just because not enough people are signed up. Just imagine meeting a person whose life you saved. And it doesn't cost you a single penny. Please consider registering for this and also as an organ donor, and remember to give blood regularly.
Mitch