50,000 transplants—YOU made it happen!
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which facilitated its first marrow transplant between an unrelated donor and patient 25 years ago, marked a major milestone by facilitating its 50,000th transplant last month.
Our first transplant took place in 1987, when Diane Walters of Wisconsin donated marrow to 6-year-old Brooke Ward of North Carolina to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Now, 25 years later, Miah Winterfeldt, a 19-year-old college student from Shakopee, Minn., was identified as the 50,000th donor. Miah was inspired to join the Be The Match Registry in honor of her uncle who passed away from lymphoma. She was identified as a match for a searching patient and recently donated peripheral blood stem cells to an individual with leukemia.
The Be The Match Registry is the world’s largest and most diverse registry of potential marrow donors and umbilical cord blood units, serving patients with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Today, the registry includes more than 9 million volunteer donors, and provides patients access to more than 185,000 cord blood units. On average, 60,000 new potential donors join the Be The Match Registry each month.
Those donors and many more are needed because of the increasing number of patients who could benefit from a transplant. Advances in the science of transplantation – including more precise methods to match patients with unrelated donors, better pinpointing of optimal transplant timing and more potent drugs to combat complications – have made the procedure an option for thousands more patients of various ages and diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Over the past 25 years, millions of people like you have stepped up to join the registry and give patients hope that a match would be found. Without your selflessness and commitment, we could not have achieved this remarkable milestone. Thank you from the NMDP and Be The Match patient families everywhere!
I’m so surprised at how time flies, and how exponentially the Program has grown!
As I near 60, I’ve felt disappointed never to have been called upon to donate; and today, I was sad to learn that my college roommate is likely to die soon of lymphoma. But the Program’s story – and my continual mentioning of the registry to people – make me so proud to have registered in the mid-1980s! (Evidently, the Program took over my file and others from miscellaneous other “drives” in the earliest years after the first successful marrow transplant in 1979.) I hadn’t realized how maybe I’ve been a pioneer, or even any help at all. Tonight, I’m going to sleep well!
that is fantastic news. I hope one day soon I will be able to donate to someone in need
that is fantastic news on the 50k donor. I hope one day I will be called upon to be a donor also
Just wanted to thank everyone that has registered. My husband is one of the 50,000. It has been a little over a year now since his transplant and his blood counts are really good. I am very thankful for this time with him and hope someday we will get to meet his donor. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I feel honored to have been able to donate bone marrow in 2006 to an 11 year old girl. She just celebrated her 5th year cancer free and will be 17 in March
Wow! 50,000 that is so great! My late husband was one of those recipients and that gave him a whole year to witness his 1st son being born and to watch him grow through his first year of life. I am also registered and hoping that one day I can donate as a way of giving back to the gracious donors who are all heroes.
This is definitely great news!!!I have been organizing Marrow Drives for almost 10 years. Few of my registrants have been found to be match, but so far no one has been able to donate. It is nice to see people’s good spirit around holidays. I urge readers to spread words about registering so that more recipients can be benefited.
I’ve not been contacted yet, and have been a part of the program for about 15 years. Nevertheless, I’m proud to be part of something that has had so much benefit to so many. Congratulations, NMDP!
My son is one of the 50,000. Six years ago, in Houston, Texas, he received marrow from Nicole, in Germany. So many miracles, so much hard work, so much generosity, so much expertise, so many resources, so many people came together to save Ben’s life. It would not have happened without the National Marrow Donor Program. Thank you for all you do.
I recently was lucky to be an unrelated donor for peripheral stem cells. I still remember the day I received the phone call. I had been on the registry list for 21 years. So everyone on the list do not give up, you never know how one phone call can change someones life. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful program and all the people who give so unselfishly.
I too received my phone call just a few months ago after a 23 year wait. I join Karen in saying do not be discouraged. You will be there for when a patient needs you. I love how she said “one phone call can change someone’s life”. It will also change yours. You just never know. The key is is to be willing and available. I am also so proud to be associated with such a fantastic organization that is giving hope to so many people.
Like Karen – I too recently was BLESSED to be an unrelated donor for peripheral stem cells. I’ll never forget the feeling/emotion of the e-mail I received that I was a potential match. I had been on the registry list for 5 years and also am so proud to be a part of this wonderful program especially during this historic anniversary year.
I am so proud to have been one of those who was called upon to donate to an unrelated person almost 2 years ago! And I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Thank you to all who are on the list and have made the 50,000 happen. I am one of the 50K, celebrating 18 months post transplant next week. I feel so blessed to have had a match. I am thankful for my donor and those like him everyday.
I recently came across your site and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
Low Platelets Treatment and Natural Remedies
I also have been blessed to have been able to donate peripheral stem cells last May. I recently heard the person who recieved the donation was doing wonderful. I also was called just this past week. I have been identified as another match with a patient who has leukemia. I plan to continue with testing and hopefully will be able to donate a 2nd time to help someone in need.
I am proud to say that I am one of the 50,000 too. I donated last June to a male with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I understand he is doing well and hope to one day meet my blood brother. I join the registry about 12 years ago to honor a dear friends daughter who lost her battle with Neuroblastoma. Continue to spread the word everyone and yes I would donate again in a HEARTBEAT!
Is there any material on this sit eon how to become a donor and what is involved in the donation process?
Thank you!
Thanks for asking! Please go to bethematch.org/join to find all of the information you seek.
Miah thank you for being a donor. It has been a little over 3 months since my wife had her transplant and today she is doing very well. I am so thankful that there are people like you who’ve given my wife a future. I am glad that your story is highlighted because we are able to put a face to all that have donated. I know one day we will be able to thank her donor in person and I truly look forward to that day. BTW, I am waiting for the call too.