Will U Marrow Me?
My name is J'aime Tilston. In January of 2012 I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Aplastic Anemia. There is a cure for this hideous disease and it is in the hands of ordinary people. One year ago my future looked short and dark, and I am beside myself with joy knowing that as of a week ago I can consider myself cured. I am alive today because of a bone marrow transplant that I received on April 4, 2012. Despite the chemo, the side-effects, the physical pain and the great unknown, the worst part of the whole process was not knowing if I had a donor for my transplant. Many patients, especially those who are racially and ethnically diverse, are unable to find matches and are still waiting for a life-saving transplant. Every 4 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer...YOU could be their CURE.
So many people have offered their love and support, asking what they could do to help. With this website, my goal is to encourage my friends, family, and others to join their national bone marrow donation registry, and to support them in that process. Once registered, you have the potential to save the life of anyone in need around the world.
In celebration of the first anniversary of my successful transplant, I would like to help add 150 new people to the donor database. The first year anniversary after a bone marrow transplant is celebrated as it "officially" marks a successful transplant, meaning that my body has learned to accept my donor's cells and can now properly produce blood on it's own. The anniversary is also considered the patient's second 'first birthday', since they received new blood, new DNA and new life from their donor.
Help me celebrate my birthday by registering today! To help me track my goal, please fill out the survey. Check back to see if I have reached my goal!
So many people have offered their love and support, asking what they could do to help. With this website, my goal is to encourage my friends, family, and others to join their national bone marrow donation registry, and to support them in that process. Once registered, you have the potential to save the life of anyone in need around the world.
In celebration of the first anniversary of my successful transplant, I would like to help add 150 new people to the donor database. The first year anniversary after a bone marrow transplant is celebrated as it "officially" marks a successful transplant, meaning that my body has learned to accept my donor's cells and can now properly produce blood on it's own. The anniversary is also considered the patient's second 'first birthday', since they received new blood, new DNA and new life from their donor.
Help me celebrate my birthday by registering today! To help me track my goal, please fill out the survey. Check back to see if I have reached my goal!
How you can help:
Help me reach my goal of registering 150 new people in the bone marrow database! Joining is simple and painless. Your first step is answering some basic health questions to ensure you are eligible and then requesting that a donor kit be mailed to your home which includes a cheek swab that you use and return in the mail. The kits can be sent out free of charge. It does cost the organizations roughly $100 to mail and process the kit, so if you are able to make a donation to contribute to all or part of the cost, that is greatly appreciated, but not a requirement. Following these few short steps, you will be in the marrow database and are one step closer to saving a life!
Bone marrow transplants can provide cures to many blood cancers, like Leukemia and Lymphoma. Becoming a donor is easy, donation does not require surgery, you never pay to donate marrow and you may save a life! If you are between the ages of 18-44, you ensure recipients the highest chance for successful transplants. Donors with diverse ethnic background are especially needed, as matches are typically found among people who share similar ancestry.
An alternative (or additional!) way to help is to donate blood at your local blood center. Over the course of my illness, I required 49 platelet, white blood and red blood transfusions. These transfusions were just as significant in my treatment, and helped keep me strong enough for the transplant day. As a donor recipient, I am unable to donate blood, and would so love to have a way to give back to the blood banks that I took from. I would love to hear from you if you donate blood so that I can also keep track of these numbers. Thank you!!!
Wishing you peace and health!
Bone marrow transplants can provide cures to many blood cancers, like Leukemia and Lymphoma. Becoming a donor is easy, donation does not require surgery, you never pay to donate marrow and you may save a life! If you are between the ages of 18-44, you ensure recipients the highest chance for successful transplants. Donors with diverse ethnic background are especially needed, as matches are typically found among people who share similar ancestry.
An alternative (or additional!) way to help is to donate blood at your local blood center. Over the course of my illness, I required 49 platelet, white blood and red blood transfusions. These transfusions were just as significant in my treatment, and helped keep me strong enough for the transplant day. As a donor recipient, I am unable to donate blood, and would so love to have a way to give back to the blood banks that I took from. I would love to hear from you if you donate blood so that I can also keep track of these numbers. Thank you!!!
Wishing you peace and health!
