Bone marrow transplant question

[careyalis]

One of our students, who is also a co worker's son, is on his second bout with ALL. He didn't respond to chemo and had a bone marrow transplant about a year and a half ago and was in remission.

So the cancer is back, he's still not responding to chemo and they were going to do another bone marrow transplant today as a last ditch effort.

His brother is the donor and just came down with mono so the transplant is cancelled.

That is all we know and I am feeling sick and helpless. I know that I, and any one of my colleagues, would donate our marrow if it was possible, but I don't know how to go about finding out if I am a match. Could they still use his brothers marrow at some point? I don't know how long they can delay the transplant. How likely is it that we could help?

Sorry for rambling on so much. Ben got sick when I was pregnant with Avery and I really bonded with his dad at that time. Things were really looking up- Ben was in remission and I had Blake- and then this happens. I am just so sad for them. He is supposed to start 8th grade next week

[careyalis]

Sorry-this is a post and run. I'll be back to check after a meeting. @therealmc

[Faevantastic]

That is so incredibly sad.

I don't know how it works but if you go to bethematch.org/Registry_Members/Donation/Steps_of_Donation.aspx they will send you a kit for the swabs. I think the best you can do is get on the registry even if you don't turn out to be his match, you could still potentially save someone out there some day.

A family friend of ours came down with leukemia last year. He is now in remission thanks to bone marrow transplant. When they were holding a registry at my work, it was a no brainer.

[mala]

I'm sorry.

As I understand it, chances are slim that you'd be a match, but that is no reason not to get tested to find out. If you're not a match for Ben, you may be a match for someone else.

Try Bethematch.org. As soon as B weans, I plan on registering & getting tested.

[katfco]

In addition to getting a kit sent to you, you can find out if they're testing in person near you. That's how I signed up for it. You can also contact the cancer center he's in and ask them about it. That way they could know sooner if you were a match for him.

[TrudyCampbell]

Aug 7, 2013 12:12:37 GMT -5 mala said:

I'm sorry.

As I understand it, chances are slim that you'd be a match, but that is no reason not to get tested to find out. If you're not a match for Ben, you may be a match for someone else.

Try Bethematch.org. As soon as B weans, I plan on registering & getting tested.

Yes, everyone should register! I am registered and was actually chosen while pregnant so I couldn't donate. It was incredibly hard for me. I contacted them again 8 weeks after I gave birth and they no longer needed me.

[Faevantastic]

Aug 7, 2013 12:17:18 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Aug 7, 2013 12:12:37 GMT -5 mala said:

I'm sorry.

As I understand it, chances are slim that you'd be a match, but that is no reason not to get tested to find out. If you're not a match for Ben, you may be a match for someone else.

Try Bethematch.org. As soon as B weans, I plan on registering & getting tested.

Yes, everyone should register! I am registered and was actually chosen while pregnant so I couldn't donate. It was incredibly hard for me. I contacted them again 8 weeks after I gave birth and they no longer needed me.

When I went for the swab, they said I couldn't donate until a year's passed after giving birth. Come to think of it, careyalis- this is probably true for you too. Check though. Good luck!

[katfco]

Aug 7, 2013 12:27:22 GMT -5 Faevantastic said:

Aug 7, 2013 12:17:18 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Yes, everyone should register! I am registered and was actually chosen while pregnant so I couldn't donate. It was incredibly hard for me. I contacted them again 8 weeks after I gave birth and they no longer needed me.

When I went for the swab, they said I couldn't donate until a year's passed after giving birth. Come to think of it, careyalis- this is probably true for you too. Check though. Good luck!

According to the FAQ site, you can't donate until "several months" after pregnancy and breastfeeding are over. www.giftoflife.org/pages/frequently-asked-questions.aspx

But even if you personally can't donate, you can still see if you're a match and encourage others to get tested.

Edit: I just realized this isn't the national registry site, and it looks like they're a bit more stringent than Be the Match.

[raynes]

I know when our friends were thinking about a bone marrow transplant for their son they only tested the immediate family for a match for him. Everyone else just had to go on the national registry. But, that's also Canada, so things could be different.

[raynes]

I know that as far as blood donation goes (and I know that's different) here you can donate 6 months after you've given birth, even if you're BF'ing, but if you got Rogam you need to wait a year, because that's a blood product.

[careyalis]

Thank you all for your answers and thoughts and prayers for Ben and his family. It is my understanding that his younger sister was not tested the first go around because she was only in 2nd grade and the high school brother had 9/10 of whatever you need so they used his. It sounds like our likelihood of helping him is slim to none, but I will definitely look at be the match and pray that his little sister is a match as well. I just hate this disease so much!

[teamhayes]

the sister is likely to be a match, hopefully.

mh was a match for him brother and it was very painful but there was no doubt in his mind he wouldn't donate to try to save his life.