Please read this.

Today a reader asked me to pass on a request for people to consider being a bone marrow donor for a child in need of a transplant. Coincidentally, as a nurse, I work with adult patients receiving this sort of transplant. Before I direct you to her post for additional information, though, I wanted to point out a few things:

Rarely are "bone marrow transplants" done any more. Bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells, which are biological cells that can differentiate into a variety of different types of cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, for example. But bone marrow is not the only source of stem cells.

Today stem cells are far more commonly obtained from intravenous (IV) lines. The donor's lines are connected to a machine that looks much like a dialysis machine. Blood passes through tubing in the machine and stem cells are selectively removed. At one time, many people were reluctant to be donors because the bone marrow harvest can be painful. The technique I described is far more comfortable.

Another way the stem cells can be obtained is through umbilical cord blood. After a baby is born, the umbilical cord is tied off and cut, and the placenta (afterbirth) is delivered, blood can be drawn from the placenta and processed to select out stem cells. Women are frequently asked to consider allowing stem cells from the placenta to be harvested. There is no risk to the baby, as blood is drawn from the placenta, and not from the newborn.

Now that I've told you a bit of background, please follow this link and consider being a stem cell donor.

You may save a life.