Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

This story was all over the news this week and it is so sad.
There was a bone marrow drive to find a match for her and the little girl from Broadway's Lion King (which is also a heart breaking story). There were no matches for the little girl, but there were 5 for the Ridge woman. Of those 5 no one went through with the marrow donation. Now I understand that there may have been medical issues where they could not donate, but if I were a match and did not donate I would feel just awful knowing that I could have helped save this woman's life.
What are your thoughts? If you were a match would you donate your bone marrow (if you could)?

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

If I donated, I would go through with it (barring any legit outside reasons NOT to).. what reason would one have to donate and NOT follow through with it.

I read this story and it broke my heart.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I dont think you should put yourself into the registry unless you are willing to donate. Thats just awful.

I understand there are things that could prevent them from donating, but ALL 5, I doubt it.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I thought this was horrible. Why bother being put on the list when you don't think you can go through with it? That poor woman and her family - so many opportunities...gone.

The other annoying thing about the newstory is that they reporter was saying that being a donor is not as painful as people think. They used to get actual marrow from your spine (??) but now they harvest stem cells which is a much less painful procedure. BUT they don't tell you what the procedure is. I want to look it up for reference.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Why test to see if you are a match only to not donate in the end??

that just sounds like a big tease to do something like that. It's absurd and quite frankly I find it repulsive and disgusting.

Those matches should be ashamed of themselves.

Unless there is a sound medical reason to not donate in the end.... SHAME ON THOSE SELFISH ASSSES WHO TESTED, MATCHED AND THEN DIDN'T DONATE.
I shake my head in disgust at them.


I remember this going on. Pix 11 had it on every morning!!

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I can't understand why a person would go through with the testing and then not donate, barring a medical condition or some kind of unforseen circumstance.

This poor woman and her family. To know that there is not just one match but FIVE MATCHES...and then to not have any of them come through with the donation...I can't imagine the range of emotions and grief that they all went through.



ETA: To answer the question, yes, I would donate if I was a match. I'm sure the pain involved in the donation process is nothing compared to the pain involved when your body is fighting cancer.

Message edited 11/9/2010 4:06:16 PM.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

yes in a heartbeat- one of my closest friends had leukemia this year and had a transplant and it saved her life.

I dont know if this is a factor for anyone- but they actually dont stick the needle in your back anymore- her donor sat on a machine for like 6 hours- basically the blood went into the machine on one side- machine took out the necessary cells and then the blood went into the other arm.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

That is so sad!!!

I will say though that I remember when they were on the news trying to get ppl to go out and get tested to see if you were a match. They were selling people saying, "It is no big to deal to get tested, it is quick and it doesn't hurt a bit." While the testing doesn't hurt and is no big deal, a bone marrow donation is a pretty big deal and is very painful. Maybe these people were not informed on what was involved if they were actually a match.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I felt really sad about this when I read it. I wouldn't put my name on if I had no intention of donating.

But, I want to believe all these people had legit reasons. Maybe some were medical, maybe some couldn't afford the time off (I never realized - never thought of it really - that they say recovery can be around a week) or maybe when push came to shove, they were just scared. Seems unlikely that they were all real reasons, but I don't want to think these people are so heartless that they just decided they "didn't feel like it" and let that woman die without giving her a chance.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

The Ridge woman, Penny is a family friend of my husbands family. How heartbreaking. My mil is so sad over this.

Don't be a donor if you won't donate.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Message edited 11/9/2010 4:19:23 PM.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Do you miss any work if you donate?

Just wondering if any of the matches was afraid to miss work in the economy.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

that is awful I read about the lion king girl but didn't hear about this woman.

One of my friends recently was found to be a match for a 7 year old child after YEARS of being a registered donor.

She is obviously following through, how can you not when you know it can make such a HUGE difference?

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Posted by SuperHotSauce



She is obviously following through, how can you not when you know it can make such a HUGE difference?

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Absolutely. I am on the registry. They called the other day and I almost got so upset because I am pregnant. I thought they were going to tell me I was a match for someone and I wouldn't be able to donate because of my pregnancy.
They were only calling to update their records though!

I would not have joined the registry if I did not intent to donate.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I joined the registry when my mother got sick and needed a donor. I was not a match for her but I wanted to still help someone else.

Although she found her match, she passed away. That does not deter me from donating. I want to give someone as best a chance as I could.

Please do not sign up for something you cannot commit to. It is hard enough for that person and the person's family at that time. This isn't something that is taken lightly. I'm a donor for everything, both living and when I'm gone. If I can give back, I will. Not a question about it.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Posted by HeatherRose


ITA!!! but I do know someone who was called and turned it down because it was an adult who needed it not a child

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

I've been registered for years. Of course if I was a match, I would donate. I signed up knowing it could be a painful procedure that would save a life. Barring any serious medical issues , I can't see the how someone couldn't donate.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

If i went through the trouble of getting typed to see if I matched, then I would do it. I know its not easy..i believe they go in through your spine?? i haVe enough spine issues, but jesus..if it meant saving someone and I can easily do it, I would.

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

Re: Woman dies waiting for marrow transplant

This is so heartbreaking! 5 matches and not one could donate?

I was tested at a drive for a little girl who had leukemia a few years back. I had no idea what a bone marrow transplant entailed until someone on line waiting to be tested with me explained it all to me. I passed out while donating a sample of my blood just thinking about what I would have to go through to save that little girl if I were a match.

I believe I am still on the registry and even if I did end up matching a total stranger, I would just suck it up and just do it. A few hours of pain is nothing compared to the pain a person with leukemia is suffering with every day.