Be The Match.

Every year, thousands of people depend on bone marrow donations to save their lives. These diseases, from leukemia to lymphoma, affect the young and old, the rich and poor, black and white.

It's my two year anniversary on the Be The Match, formerly called the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), and I figured I would pass this on to you guys. Registration and participation is free. You do nothing but sign up and send your cheek swabs back. You wait for a match and then you donate.

You may be called in a month. You may be called in a year. You may be called in ten years, or you may never be called. But registering gives you the chance to save someone's life.

When I signed up, I did so because I read the story of a little girl who desperately needed a marrow transplant. I don't remember the details, but she was incredibly young, extremely precious, and close to death. The leukemia was ravaging her body and without a match, she would likely die. It took me ten minutes to sign up and less than five to do the cheek swabs.

I haven't been called yet, but when and if I am, it will be one of the proudest moments of my life.



To sign up, please visit http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin

I'm going to sign up now.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

I'm on every donor list imaginable. Years back when I thought I was about to die, I went through a period of "if I can't use it, someone else can", and this is one of them, as well as organs, eyes, blood serum... you name it.

I'm a donor.

When I'm gone, what use are they to me? Isn't it a better thought knowing your body may save the life of someone else than just 'rotting'?