Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association. Someone is looking for a needle in a haystack... you might be the needle!

Join The Registry

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I Joined The Registry...

If you have joined the Bone Marrow Registry add yourself to the "I Joined" list and let others know you have made a difference.

Click here to sign the
"I Joined" guestbook

Here are the last few people that signed the guestbook:

I Joined!

John
Hamilton, ONTARIO
Joined 1990 (22 years)
"After more than 10 yrs on the list, I just got called as a match. Can't wait to be the chance that someone needed:)"

Lisa Arlotti
Tecumseh , ONTARIO
Joined 2011 (1 year)

Jill McAllister
Three Hills, ALBERTA
Joined 2000 (12 years)
"I joined afew years ago... I would be so proud to help a family in need!"

seth quiring
merlin, ON
Joined 2011 (1 year)
"loved it"

Alan Sheldrick
Mississauga, ONTARIO
Joined 2011 (1 year)

Click HERE to view
a complete list.

* People listed with a butterfly icon show that they were inspired to join the Bone Marrow Registry after visiting this website.

Video

Please Join the Bone Marrow Registry Video

Our YouTube video provides some basic information about the bone marrow registry and why it is critical that people of all ethnic backgrounds join the registry today.

Photos

Click any photo to view a larger size or check out our photo group HERE.

Twibbon

Help support our cause by adding this button to your website, blog, Twitter, or Facebook account.

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Donating Bone Marrow

Katie

Considering what a life saving gift bone marrow is, the process of donating marrow is really not much more than a minor inconvenience. The procedure is very safe and there are no lasting effects. Your bone marrow regenerates completely in much the same way that blood regenerates after donating blood.

Depending on the patients needs you will be asked to either donate bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells.

  • Bone marrow is collected during a day surgery procedure. The donor receives anesthesia and doctors insert a needle into the pelvic bone to aspirate the marrow.
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cells are collected by apherisis. The donor is awake throughout the process and is attached to a special machine that draws blood from the donor, separates and collects the stem cells then returns the unused portion of the blood to the donor. Prior to stem cell collection, the donor receives a special drug called Neupogen to stimulate their stem cells.

The National Marrow Donor Program has a much more detailed description of the bone marrow donation process here.

Click here to read some wonderful stories about courageous patients and their heroic bone marrow donors.