Gift of Life

[yoohoo]

 https://www.giftoflife.org/
Has anyone here donated through this organization that can share their experience?
I will be donating very soon.
TIA

[Ergel]

Yes sir. What would you like to know?

[yoohoo]

Yes sir. What would you like to know?

bone marrow or stem?
Basically how is the actual procedure and recovery?

[Ergel]

bone marrow or stem?
Basically how is the actual procedure and recovery?

Stem.
Worst part of the whole thing is the shots leading up. Really painful and make you sick/back hurt.
Procedure itself is not bad, just sitting hooked up to machines for a few hours. Only annoying thing was I was boiling hot because they heat up the blood before returning it to your body (they tried turning it off, but then the blood wouldn't go back in). No recovery

[Ergel]

What are you donating?

[yoohoo]

What are you donating?

finding out tomorrow morning. Conference call with Dr.

Thanks for the info.

[yoohoo]

So stem cell it is.
Have a physical setup for Monday.
How did you find the shots given for 5 days prior?

[Ergel]

Worst part of the whole thing is the shots leading up. Really painful and make you sick/back hurt.

[Boruch999]

So stem cell it is.
Have a physical setup for Monday.
How did you find the shots given for 5 days prior?

תזכו למצוות!!

[Ergel]

תזכו למצוות!!

+1

[yoohoo]

Stem.
Worst part of the whole thing is the shots leading up. Really painful and make you sick/back hurt.
Procedure itself is not bad, just sitting hooked up to machines for a few hours. Only annoying thing was I was boiling hot because they heat up the blood before returning it to your body (they tried turning it off, but then the blood wouldn't go back in). No recovery

how sick were you while receiving shots? In bed? Will I be missing work?
Also how immobile are you while hooked up?

[srap]

how sick were you while receiving shots? In bed? Will I be missing work?
Also how immobile are you while hooked up?

What made you want to do this?  Wow and kol hakavod!
Maybe listen to a good shiur or audio book for distraction if they allow.

[yoohoo]

What made you want to do this?  Wow and kol hakavod!
Maybe listen to a good shiur or audio book for distraction if they allow.

got an emergency call that someone’s life is on the line. Never really thought not to do it. Spoke to a Rav who encouraged me as well. (Also told me that as an Ashkenazi Jew the recipient is 90% one as well)

[rs242]

got an emergency call that someone’s life is on the line. Never really thought not to do it. Spoke to a Rav who encouraged me as well.

Do you know who it’s for? Where they live? Yid? Not that any of that matters. Just asking.

[yoohoo]

Do you know who it’s for? Where they live? Yid? Not that any of that matters. Just asking.

orginization was founded by a Jewish man...I have no recollection of when I got swabbed (I was told it was 8 years ago)  but they told me they go around to the yeshivos every so often. About 3 months ago I was informed I was a potential match (30% chance of being a match from a swab) and they sent me for blood work. Last week I got a call that I was indeed a match and that situation was urgent.
All they tell you is age and gender of recipient. They have a process of revealing identities after time. You may have anonymous correspondence thru the organization after the transfer.

[shlonx]

orginization was founded by a Jewish man...I have no recollection of when I got swabbed (I was told it was 8 years ago)  but they told me they go around to the yeshivos every so often. About 3 months ago I was informed I was a potential match (30% chance of being a match from a swab) and they sent me for blood work. Last week I got a call that I was indeed a match and that situation was urgent.
All they tell you is age and gender of recipient. They have a process of revealing identities after time. You may have anonymous correspondence thru the organization after the transfer.

כל הכבוד!!

[Ergel]

how sick were you while receiving shots? In bed? Will I be missing work?
Also how immobile are you while hooked up?

IIRC (it was six years ago already) it was like a mild flu. I didn't miss yeshiva, but I definitely wasn't 100%
When hooked up you are completley immobile. I don't remember if I used the restroom during the procedure, but if you do, I think you disconnect and reconnect when you're done.

[Ergel]

got an emergency call that someone’s life is on the line. Never really thought not to do it. Spoke to a Rav who encouraged me as well. (Also told me that as an Ashkenazi Jew the recipient is 90% one as well)

Indeed. My recipient ended up being a few years older than me and living less than 5 miles from me. R"L he passed away last year.