Bone marrow transplantation is a life-saving procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into a patient’s body to replace the same cells that are damaged. With a simple swab of the mouth, you have the potential to save someone’s life.
At Bradley University, and all over the world, Be the Match serves as a leading non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing life-saving blood donations for those in need. Since 1987, Be the Match has worked towards expanding the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry to over 12.5 million potential donors.
Natalija McCumber, junior entrepreneurship and religious studies major, is the president of the chapter. She chose to join for the opportunity to revitalize hope through a simple swab and online form, as well as from personally knowing someone who was diagnosed with blood cancer.
“It would be wonderful to match with someone, giving someone another chance at life,” McCumber said.
Maureen Leuba, a local Be The Match volunteer, received a stem cell transplant from a donor through the Be the Match registry. Her donor, who is from California, was her one perfect match out of 19 million people on the registry at the time. Now, almost ten years later, she and McCumber continue working towards expanding the registry through Bradley’s chapter.
Since 1987, Be The Match has expanded the National Bone Marrow Donor registry to over 22 million people, but over 4,000 people on the registry do not have a match, making the needs for swabs crucial. On Bradley’s campus, they hold drives at least once every semester for these swabs.
“It helps every bit … even if it’s just spreading the word,” McCumber said.
At drives, you have two options. You can register and perform a cheek swab for 20 seconds before the kit is sent to the Be the Match repository. Additionally, you can register online and have a swab delivered to your house. In either case, with a single swab and a form, you’re on the registry.
There’s a small chance, about 1 in 430, that one would be contacted by Be The Match after a swab to be a potential donor. Once you’re contacted through a phone call or email, 85% of the time, a peripheral blood stem cell donation is needed. The donation is similar to donating blood platelets. The remaining 15% of the time, the organization needs a bone marrow extraction.
“It’s as easy as taking blood,” McCumber said. “A bone marrow extraction feels like a really good workout, but it’s really easy and not painful at all.”
Rather than a pyramidal hierarchy, it’s an interconnected web working towards improving someone’s life.
“It feels more like a collaboration,” McCumber said. “I see these people and they honestly care. It makes my heart happy, seeing people care about other people. We live in a world that’s full of hate, but seeing that changes how you see everything.”
The organization does hope for future connections with other chapters.
You can find Be the Match at the Get Fit Fair, the activities fair at the beginning of each semester and future swabbing opportunities on Olin Quad.
Learn more about Be the Match on their website.
