Bone marrow transplants rekindle hope for life.
Ms. Tan, a lymphoma patient, and Dicky, a young man beside her, met for the first time today (15th), but they already had all kinds of feelings in their hearts.
"You can be so great and selfless dedication, obviously I have never met." The bone marrow transplant four years ago tied the fate of the two, and also helped Ms. Tan, who was at the door of death, overcome the disease, she recalled Tears welled up in his eyes.
Dicky laughed and said that it was not worth mentioning, thinking that it was arranged by God, "Successful pairing is a one in ten thousand chance, and the most important thing is to help people."
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service said that the demand for bone marrow transplants is strong, and it hopes that more people will register for bone marrow transplants.
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Ms. Tan, who is in her early 60s this year, has been suffering from lymphoma since 2013. During this period, she has been receiving chemotherapy and targeted therapy to stabilize her condition. Unexpectedly, she relapsed in 2017. The doctor said that she needed to find a suitable bone marrow transplant to continue her life.
"At first, it was my two sisters, but there was no good luck, and the bone marrow did not match." Hope was instantly disillusioned, and Ms. Tan had to seek help from the database of unrelated bone marrow donors, "I continue to do chemotherapy, All are exhausted.”
A successful pairing feels like a miracle: life returns
After about half a year, Ms. Tan finally received good news. A good-hearted person who has been successfully matched is willing to donate bone marrow. "I think it is a miracle. I am very happy, and my life will return to the light of day." She recalled that it was still difficult. Covering her excitement, she looked at the donor Dicky next to her, her eyes full of silent gratitude, "If you understand the vast sea of people, you will all be matched and willing to donate to me. I have never met before."
Before the bone marrow transplant, the patient needed to undergo heavy-dose chemotherapy to "clear the bottom line." She bluntly stated that the process was extremely painful, and she needed to inject "Merphine" from time to time to relieve the pain. I want to take care of my body and welcome this generous gift.”
There is love in the world, and a bone marrow connects two lives.
Dicky, 30, has donated blood for the first time since he was 19 years old, and registered to donate bone marrow at the age of 23. He has never undergone surgery, and believes that giving is more blessed than receiving: "I am very excited to receive the matching phone call, because the successful matching is a million One-in-one chance is God’s arrangement.” After discussing with his family and analyzing the risks, he decided to donate bone marrow to help others: “All patients need to be clear.
Dicky described the process of donating bone marrow as "slumbering" and "you need a magnifying glass to see every needle."
(Photo by Xia Jialang)
Dicky said frankly that he also felt trembling when he first entered the operating room. Take a nap.” “You need to look at every needle hole with a magnifying glass.” After a short rest, you can move on as usual, but the pain is “as if you don’t have a stretch after exercising.
Ms. Tan is also on the road to recovery after surgery.
She did not deny that she suffered from skin and eyes rejection half a year after the operation, but after about a year and a half, she has basically recovered. Life."
There were also pleasant surprises during her recovery. She pointed out that although she was in the hospital for more than two months, she never cried, "but as soon as I was discharged from the hospital, the girl handed him a card of affection written by Dicky, and I was already screaming. Zhong passed me early (writing a heartfelt card), and every Christmas I would send back the good news, so if you listen, I am alive and well.”
Dicky said with a smile that he had forgotten the content of the card after so many years, "I knew there would be rejection after donating bone marrow, and I was worried that he would not have enough will, so I wrote it back carefully."
The database of unrelated bone marrow donors in Hong Kong was established in 1991. As of August this year, more than 160,000 people in Hong Kong have registered as voluntary bone marrow donors, and 1,122 local and 129 overseas patients have been successfully provided with suitable hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. treat.
Dr. Li Zhuoguang, executive and medical director of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Center, said that the median age of registered bone marrow donors is 35 years old, and there are about 8,000 to 10,000 new registrations each year. He expects more young "new blood": "Especially young men, those with thick blood vessels are easy to donate." (Photo by Xia Jialong)
The leukocyte histotype of both the bone marrow donor and the recipient of the bone marrow transplant must be highly or completely matched before a bone marrow transplant can be performed.
Dr. Li Zhuoguang, administrative and medical director of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Center, said that four groups of eight pairs are "basic sets". If a patient cannot find suitable bone marrow from relatives, he needs to turn to an unrelated donor. According to statistics, the bone marrow of both sides is completely matched. Generally only 5000 to 1 in 10,000 chance; if the rare white blood cell type, the chance is less than 1 in 100,000.
He pointed out that about 40 to 50 unrelated cases are successfully matched each year in Hong Kong.
He also emphasized that the extraction of bone marrow is not the same as extraction of the spinal cord, and it will not affect the nerves. The donation process only needs to extract about 1-3% of the hematopoietic stem cells in the donor's body. "A small amount can already help people", and the hematopoietic stem cells have The self-reproduction function can be recreated by itself, and healthy people can recover in a short time; it will not weaken the immune and hematopoietic ability of the donor.
He pointed out that the median age of registered bone marrow donors is 35 years old, and there are about 8,000 to 10,000 new registrations every year. He expects more young "new blood": "Especially young men, who have thick blood vessels and are easy to donate. ."
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Centre appeals to the public to actively respond to the "World Marrow Donor Day" tomorrow (17th), who successfully donate blood and register to donate bone marrow from 17th to 17th, will receive a reusable food bag. The number is limited. While supplies last.
The Center sincerely invites the public to make an appointment for blood donation by calling the blood donation centers or through the mobile app "HK Blood" to reduce waiting time and avoid crowds.
For the address and opening hours of the blood donation center, please visit the website of the center at www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
Anyone who is between 18 and 50 years old and in good health can go to any blood donation center to register as a bone marrow donor.
Citizens only need to fill in the registration form, pass health enquiries and receive blood for blood tests.
For information on bone marrow donation, members of the public can call 2710 1206 or visit the Centre's website.
