As of: February 27, 2024, 2:53 p.m
By: Felicitas Bogner
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In a classroom, the volunteers were able to make compromises and register digitally with the DKMS.
© Felicitas BOgner
The Tölz vocational high schools once again initiated a large DKMS typing campaign.
So far, 13 lives have been saved through their efforts.
One donor reported on his experience.
Bad Tölz –
You can save lives as a stem cell donor.
Students at the Bad Tölz vocational high school have already proven that this is not just an empty phrase.
During two typing campaigns carried out at the school for the German Bone Marrow Donor Database (DKMS), 13 of those registered were able to save a human life with a stem cell donation.
Now the FOS/BOS - initiated by teacher Holger Macht and student representative Magdalena Sterzer - organized a typing campaign for the third time.
For this, the school received a seal from the DKMS, which headmaster Andreas Stefan accepted.
The last two typing campaigns resulted in 13 donors
Holger Macht has been registered in the collective file since 1991.
It is “close to the heart” of the guidance counselor to advocate for the issue at school.
Not without success: there were more people interested in the lectures than there were seats in the auditorium.
The DKMS helper Melanie Reisach explained to the Tölz donor Nathanael Achenbach about leukemia and the donation process.
“The demand is very high, this year we gave priority to those students who will no longer be at school next year,” says Macht.
Put your chopsticks in, be a donor: Siwar Ichalaf has decided to register.
© Felicitas Bogner
Fight against blood cancer: FOS/BOS Bad Tölz receives DKMS seal
After the lectures there was the opportunity to register digitally as a stem cell donor.
Melanie Reisach brought the necessary equipment – the test sets – with her.
This morning, well over 100 students rubbed their oral mucosa with cotton swabs to help people diagnosed with leukemia.
So did Siwar Ichalaf.
“At first I was unsure what could happen to me if I were considered as a donor,” says the 18-year-old.
According to the DKMS, the probability is just over one percent.
“I am now convinced by the donor’s presentation and his experience report and have no reservations,” says Ichalaf and puts the cotton swabs in the plastic bag.
Not everyone can become a donor - health conditions are crucial
After the lecture, many personal questions arise.
“Can I become a donor even though I have celiac disease?” a student wanted to know in relation to her illness caused by gluten intolerance.
“I have a list with me for such cases.
“It describes the health conditions under which a donation is not possible,” explains Reisach and browses to the autoimmune disease.
The student teacher sees the fact that she volunteers for the DKMS as an “important educational mission”.
In addition, she had already noticed from her friends how mercilessly blood cancer can strike.
“An acquaintance died of leukemia when she was at primary school.” Contact with such fates greatly sensitizes people.
“Most volunteers are affected by the issue in some way.”
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Nathanael Achenbach reported on his experiences as a stem cell donor.
© Felicitas Bogner
Six years ago, Nathanael Achenbach had a bone marrow harvested.
“Four years after my registration, I was contacted by the DKMS that I would be considered as a possible donor,” he reports.
Blood samples and various examinations followed.
“A few weeks later it was clear that I was a genetic match with someone who was looking for a donor.” The procedure took place almost five months after the first contact.
Achenbach is one of the 90 percent of cases in which peripheral stem cell collection was used.
With this method, the stem cells are obtained from the blood using a special procedure (apheresis).
Before that, he received a medication for five days that increased the production of stem cells and flushed them out into the bloodstream.
“I had flu-like symptoms at the time, but they went away quickly.” Otherwise, the removal did not cause him any physical problems, said the police officer.
The other variant - which is used in ten percent of all cases - involves a bone marrow removal from the iliac crest.
This is only possible under anesthesia, said Reisach in the lecture.
“Some gain at least a few months or years.”
Volunteer helper at DKMS
Achenbach is happy to have taken the step.
“It was a formative and emotional life experience.” Unfortunately, the patient who received his donation – a 72-year-old from England – died of an infection six months later.
“We still had anonymous correspondence, which was worth a lot.
It's exciting to find out who his genetic twin is." According to Reisach, a few years after a donation there is the possibility of a meeting between donor and recipient - if both want to give up their anonymity.
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However, it is also clear that not every leukemia patient can be saved through a donation.
“Some people gain at least a few months or years.” For example, there was a man who was able to live long enough thanks to the donation to see the birth of his daughter.
“That’s also incredibly worth a lot,” emphasizes Reisach.
“So you can also donate hope and time.”
Info
On the Internet: www.dkms.de
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