What does it really mean to be the match?
You’ve received the exciting news—you’re a match for a patient! When you joined the Be The Match Registry, you hoped you’d one day be able to save someone’s life. Now donating blood stem cells has become a reality and you may have questions like:
- What’s donation like? Will it hurt?
- How can I afford to take time off from work or school?
- When will I be able to return to my normal activities?
- Will I have to travel to donate?
- How can I help my family understand?
We are here to help get all the answers you’re looking for from someone who knows things first-hand.
Connect with someone who has donated blood stem cells
The Donor Connect program partners you with a trained mentor who has gone through the process of donating blood stem cells to a patient. No matter where you are in the donation process, past donors are available to connect with you by phone or email. They can answer your questions and provide tips from their own personal donation experience.
“It was great to chat about my experience and I think it helped him understand not just the donation process but the logistics as well. He was worried about the time commitment since he has a new child, but I would like to think he was able to get a little more comfort understanding my experience.”
– Evan Orlando, Donor Connect Mentor
Every blood stem cell donor’s life is different. We’ll connect you with a mentor who closely matches your unique situation. You can ask questions like:
- What’s the time commitment like?
- What should I bring with me when I donate?
- What was the donation process like on the day of?
- How long does it take to recover?
- What are some of the side effects of donation?
- Will I be able to take care of my children?
Request a Donor Connect mentor today by contacting Donor Advocacy at advocate@nmdp.org or 1 (800) 526-7809 x 8710.