"In February 2010 the Transfusion Centre in Madrid called me because there was a possible receptor with whom I was compatible. They ran different tests and the week later they confirmed that I was compatible. My feelings those days are hard to describe; I was nervous because I had to be admitted but I was happy because I was going to be able to help a sick person, and also I feared that in those two weeks before the intervention something would come up with me (I would get sick for example) and I wouldn’t be able to make the donation.

One week before the extraction, I had to go the Princesa Hospital for all of the previous tests and some blood extractions. It was pretty cool because in two hours they ran 5 or 6 different tests which usually would take days. While I was going back to work I started weeping, I couldn’t say if they were sad or happy tears, thinking about that person who needed my cells to get cured.

That previous week to the extraction was very hard because instead of following a normal life I tried to take care and protect myself more than normal. I was preparing myself to run a marathon and I stopped training, I would wear a lot of warm clothes so that I wouldn’t get a cold, I would pick my food carefully… Nevertheless, two days later I started to get a sore throat and running a fever, but in the end there was nothing wrong with me. I was admitted the day before the operation and everything was new for me, because I had never been admitted before. The treatment I received by the doctors and nurses at the Princesa Hospital were at all times outstanding. They treated me like a guest and they took careful care of me.

The day came. They brought me to the operation room and sedated me without me even noticing, and when I woke up it was all done. The haematologist told me that my cells were on their way to the receptor, that everything had gone very well and that they had taken more just in case the patient needed a second donation.

Two weeks later I called the person from the José Carreras Foundation who had taken care of everything, to ask her how the patient was. She told me that everything had gone well and that they had to wait and see how the patient evolved.

My satisfaction was complete, and the happiness for that person indescribable. I’m a parent and I think about what all of those people who have their children or family members admitted and, just because of that, I know it is worth it.

It is a few days of discomforts in exchange for a life and world full of joy. Who can say no to that?"

Kind regards,

 

Juan Antonio

 

If you want more information about the donation of bone marrow to help many leukaemia patients to have the opportunity of a cure, click HERE. Remember that the donation of bone marrow is altruistic, anonymous, and universal. If you register as a bone marrow donor, you could be making a donation to a person from anywhere in the world. If you want more information, write to donants@fcarreras.es or call us on our free phone number (in Spain) 900 32 33 34.

You could also become a member of the José Carreras Foundation. With a little amount you could help us to continue our research.