Deciding to donate

The time between being contacted as a potential blood stem cell match for a patient and saying "yes" is critical. Saying "yes is the first step on the path of being a life-saving donor for a patient that's counting on you. It should be an educated decision, one where you understand the basics of donation and what providing a cure to patients looks like.

There are many factors that contribute to a successful blood stem cell transplant. Medical guidelines are used to help predict the success of a transplant and help us protect both you and the patient. While these guidelines aren't a reflection of your overall health, you should consider them as you think through your decision to donate.

The decision to donate blood stem cells can be life-changing—for both you and the patient. Knowing how to communicate your decision and have intentional conversations with your loved ones is just as much a part of the donation process as educating yourself. We have some tools and suggestions to help you make those you care about a part of your journey to providing a cure.

When you match with a patient to potentially donate blood stem cells, there are some steps to complete in preparation for donation day. We’ve outlined each one so that nothing is a surprise.

There's a lot of buildup to donation day, but it doesn't stop there. Find out more about what happens after you donate, including moving through recovery, contacting your recipient and how you can use your unique donor story to help even more patients.