Bone marrow recipients who have met their donors know how wonderful it can be to thank and touch their donor. Bone marrow donors who have met their recipients know how wonderful it can be to see the results of the donation firsthand. However, there are many countries, transplant centers, and donor centers that prohibit these meetings, claiming that the risks outweigh the benefits.
The following risks that are often mentioned do exist.
1. Religious/political incompatibilities: While unlikely, we all know that it is possible for these issues to ruin a relationship. For example, it is not completely impossible for a pro-life advocate to discover that his or her donor/recipient is an abortion doctor, or an animal rights activist to discover that his/her recipient is an avid seal hunter, etc.
2. Personality incompatibilities: It is possible that your donor/recipient will possess personality traits objectionable to you. Your sense of humor may not be compatible with his/hers, he/she may be too confrontational for you, etc.
3. Having little in common: Simply having few common interests could hinder a relationship with your donor/recipient.
4. Expectation of reward on donor’s part: This is rare, since people who sign up as bone marrow donors tend to be very kind and caring. However, anything is possible.
5. Pressure to donate more marrow or another organ: It is very unlikely that more stem cells will be needed many years after the transplant. But, it is not impossible. After a bone marrow/PBSC transplant, the recipient now has an immune system identical to the donor. That means that he/she would be able to accept a kidney or other organ without the risk of rejection (assuming the recipient is off immunosuppressant drugs for GVHD). That means that the donor could be pressured to donate if such a need were to arise.
I do want donors and recipients to consider the potential risks. However, donors and recipients should have the right to decide that the potential benefits greatly outweigh the potential risks and act on the decision.
Donors and recipients can find each other even without the help of registries. The best way is HLA typing. There is an explanation here, http://www.inbc2.org/Transplant_Services/HLA_Laboratory/Histo_101.html#HLA_Inheritance. It is often accepted that donors have a right to access this information. Therefore, donors one should ask the registry for your testing results. If the registry will not cooperate, here is a link to a company which will test you for $175 ://www.bonemarrowtest.com/. Recipients should ask their doctors. Leave a comment that includes the following information. If anonymous contact was allowed, include passages from letters as well as describing gifts that were sent if you were allowed to send anonymous gifts.
Blood type: The recipient’s blood type will change to the donors if the types were different.
O ,A, B ,AB (+, -)
HLA type:
A
B
DRB1
C
DQB1
If it was a mismatch transplant, how many were there and what loci?
Age of donor:
Age of recipient:
Sex of donor:
Sex of recipient:
CMV status of donor:
CMV status of recipient:
PLEASE NOTE: Please do not use this site to avoid waiting periods. I will not try to match you until at least a year has passed since the transplant. If one party lives in a country that requires 2 or more years, then you must wait until then.
