Calling for registering with NMDP (marrow donors)

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS

Contrary to many of you might feel, marrow donation is not very painful or dangerous to the person who is doing the donation. It is not like a kidney donation or such. Bone marrow matches are extremely difficult to find (it's not like blood group match which is much more easier to find), and getting registered takes about 10 minutes of your time - at no cost! (since we South Asians are a minority). Americans pay about 52$ to get tested and get registered with NMDP. Of course, we (not too many people in India) are not aware of marrow transplant or marrow donation very much. So, I would like to share with you what I know.

Obtaining a match for a South Asian has a probability of 1 in 20000. And when a match is found, the person who is registered is contacted in order to *save* a life. What I mean to say is, it is absolutely the last resort and it is done only when another person's life is on the line. So, when you are contacted because you are match, you actually have with you an opportunity to save one's life. It is one life against 4-5 days of another one's sore hip.

The marrow transplant is done *only* in life/death situations, and to save a life. To be able to donate, you need to be registered in the donor registry. There is not such formal registry in India. But here is a chance for you to be registered here in US. You have to get tested/registered only once and you will be available for donating marrow till the age of 61. And all it takes is 5 minutes to fill up your information and 5 minutes to give cheek swab sample (wet a strip with your saliva).

QUICK FACTS
* Marrow Donation does not weaken the donor
* Recovery period is 4-5 days
* Complete marrow re-growth occurs within 4-6 weeks
* No part of your body is taken
* Surgical donation procedure is performed under anesthesia

This is all from what knowledge I have. If you think I have got something wrong above, please feel free to correct me.

Please see http://www.helpvinay.org/ for the upcoming drives around your area. Keep in mind that these drives are not just for Vinay's sake. Being registered might save someone else's life tomorrow!

Please register ASAP. I would also strongly encourage you all to get your friends to register. If each one of us takes the responsibility of getting at least a few other people to register, that would be a great help. Remember, tomorrow this could happen to anyone amongst us.

Thanks.
Shraddha