We can all help Chris by donating blood that will earn credits that Chris can use to pay for the uninsured costs associated with blood transfusions.
If you are in the Dallas area, go to any Carter Blood Care Facility, and tell them that you would like to donate blood to Group Sponsor #SPON023047 and the credits will be available for Chris to use.
If you are in the Houston area, you may go to MD Anderson at either the hospital on the weekend or the Fannin location during the week. (Click here for MD Anderson blood donation locations)
In order for Chris to receive the credits from MD Anderson, please follow the instructions below:
Give blood.
Tell MD Anderson it is for a donor replacement.
Give name of recipient (Chris Husbands), the hospital (Medical City, Dallas) and Group Sponsor # assigned by Carter Blood Care Facility, #SPON023047.
Men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor like you. These patients have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure.
MYTH: Bone marrow donation is painful.
FACT: Bone marrow donation procedures are done under general or regional anesthesia so the donor experiences no pain during the collection procedure.
MYTH: Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
FACT: Bone marrow donation involves transplant of the liquid marrow found inside of the bone. No pieces of bone are removed from the donor. During a surgical procedure in an operation room, special, hollow needles are used to withdraw liquid marrow from the donor's pelvic bones.
MYTH: No anesthesia is used for bone marrow donation.
FACT: Bone marrow donation procedures are always done when the donor is under general or regional anesthesia.
MYTH: All bone marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT: Some donations involve surgery and some do not. Donors may be asked to donate marrow, which is a surgical procedure, or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in a blood center or outpatient clinic.
MYTH: Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery process.
FACT: Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for a few days or longer. Donors also have reported feeling tired and having some discomfort walking. Most donors are back to their regular routine in a few days. Some may take a few weeks before they feel completely recovered.
MYTH: Bone marrow donation weakens the donor.
FACT: A donor's marrow is completely replaced within four to six weeks. After donating, most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES (MDS) GO TO:
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation