Matejunkie

Something completely different this time, but since it’s quite important I thought to let you know that I decided to become a bone marrow donor last week because of a guy within my circle of acquaintances who recently got ill with leukemia. Although the chances are minimal to find a potential donor that actually fits it’s at least a chance for him and for others as well.

Becoming a bone marrow donor is simple. All required information can be found on the DKMS’s website. Once you’ve signed up you’ll receive a package including two Q-tips with which you have to harvest cells at the inner side of your cheek which is mailed back afterwards to do the typecast. Then the information is being anonymized (Donor ID plus the characteristics of the biological tissue) and stored in the central database of the ZKRD (Zentrales Knochenmarkspender-Register Deutschland). From then the information can be queried to help affected people worldwide.

Be aware of the fact that the cost for becoming a bone marrow donor this way is about 50 Euros in Germany since the DKMS can’t afford to pay all typecasts by itself, but you may also give a blood donation which makes it completely free of charge. Therefore thanks to nugg.ad and especially Stephan Noller who enabled me to do this.