• Who is involved in the MMDC?
• How can I get involved?
• I've got some questions about registring my bone marrow type....
• Where did this MMDC thing come from?
• So what happens behind the scenes at a drive? (I.e, what does the MMDC do to make it happen?)

• How much time does it take to register?
• They're not taking my bone marrow at registration, are they?
• So how exactly does this whole process work?
• If I do end up matching, can I be forced to donate?
• How fast does bone marrow grow back after I donate?
• Do I need to reregister every year?
• What are the risks of complication for the donor?
• What exactly happens during the transplant?
• Does it hurt?
• How long am I in the hospital?
• How much does this cost?
• I'm not a minority. Can I still donate?

We're glad you asked! See this page for an explanation.

If I do end up matching, can I be forced to donate?

NO! Nothing will ever be done without your permission. You can back out of the process at any point up until the beginning of the preparation for transplant. Also, if you have any medical conditions that would put you at the slightest risk, you will not be allowed to do the transplant until you recover.

How much time does it take to register?

When you reach the center, it takes about five to ten minutes to fill out the forms, and then about ten minutes to get the blood samples, not counting a little time in line.

Hey, they're not taking my bone marrow at registration, are they?

Heck no! Only two small samples of blood will be taken. The blood is used for biochemical tests to find out what your tissue type is. The donation itself doesn't happen until much later --if ever.

Hey, how fast does bone marrow grow back after I donate?

Bone marrow regrows fast in your body, just like nails, hair, or blood. Like a blood drive, after you donate, the bone marrow grows back again.

Do I need to reregister every year?

Nope! Once you have been entered into the system, you will remain on the list until you are 60 or until you ask them to take you off. You don't need to reregsiter, you don't need to ever pay a cent. However, you do need to fill out the change of address forms the marrow center sends you when you register.

What are the risks of complication for the donor?

No donor, to the best knowledge of the NMDP, has ever been harmed by their choosing to donate. However, for the sake of completeness, there are a few outside possible sources of risk. There is a minor risk of infection where the needles are inserted, much as there is anytime you cut yourself or get an injection. Loss of blood may occur during the surgery itself, but this is treated by transfusing blood collected from you earlier in the day. There are some risks associated with anesthesia, the same risks that occur for any surgery, but all donors must pass a through physical examination a nd meet the standards of the anesthesia.

What exactly happens during the transplant?

You are put under anesthesia, either general or spinal, so that you don't feel anything during the surgery. The surgeon then removes a tiny fraction of your bone marrow (~5%, or as much as one point of donated blood is to your whole blood supply (~5L)) using a syringe. Your bone marrow is then injected (intravenously) into the patient, where your bone marrow then naturally seeks out the bone cavities and grows there.

Does it hurt?

The transplant itself doesn't hurt, because you're on anesthesia during the transplant. Afterwards, many donors report soreness or tenderness in the lower back for a few days, sort of like the bruise you get when you fall down rollerblading or falling on ice.

How long am I in the hospital?

The donor enters the hospital the day before or of the transplant, and stays overnight or even goes home the same day, depending on how she/he feels.

How much does this cost?

You, not a cent. All medical costs associated with the transplant are paid for by the patient's insurance company. Personal insurance for you is covered by the NMDP.

I'm not a minority. Can I still donate?

We welcome donations from everyone. However, the grant we have from the government only guarantees payment for the tests for minorities. Typing bone marrow costs about $45 dollars per person. Thus, at this particular bone marrow drive, first priority for free testing will go to minorities (because that's where the grant money was directed to.) However, there are many ways you can still donate:

• You can pay for your own testing by writing a check. Please ask the volunteers at the drive for more details.

• You can put your name on a waiting list for free testing. If there are extra funds available, this drive may be able to pay for your typing.

• You can donate blood at a blood drive, and they can usually arrange for some of that blood to be typed.

Hey, where did this all come from?

A thumbnail sketch of the founding of the MMDC

(as written by Jeff Huo)

Many campus organizations in the past have run small bone marrow registration drives. Among them was the United Asian American Medical Student Association. Medical students from that organization first approached other organizations at the medical school, and then throughout campus, about uniting separate efforts into one large effort. Together, the united organization, now called the Minority Marrow Donor Coalition, mounted a three-day drive across the U. MIchigan campus that registered over 400 people. That combined drive's success encouraged it's members to contine organizing drives throughout winter semester. It has continues today.

Presidents of the MMDC:

• Early fall 1997: Eleanor Chang (UM Med, M3) was first responsible for the UAAMSA marrow registration project, and began the genesis of the MMDC before being involved in a serious automobile accident.
• Fall 1997: Eric Huang (UM Med, M3) helped lead the formation of the MMDC and the execution of it's first, three-day drive.
• Winter 1998: Wei-Shin Lai (UM class of 1997; UVA Medical School) was the first appointed President of the MMDC. She helped lead the MMDC through the three successful drives Winter 1998.
• The present day: Jermaine Stephens (LSA, Junior)

What actually happens at a drive?

Prior to a drive, the MMDC's officers meet to plan the drive, arrange for advertising, rooms, funding, etc. The MMDC has a large corps of full-time officers, so the work is heavily spread out and there are lots of opportunities to help. The officers meet on a weekly or bi-weekly basis depending on how much work needs to be done.

Drives are held on a regular basis. Sometimes it is conjunction with a major event, like the Public Health Students of African Decent confrence. Other times, the family of a patient with a particularly rare bone marrow type may make an emergency nationwide appeal, and we answer the call to screen more people for the elusive type. Such was the case with Cindy Moy, last year.

Once a date, time and place is picked for a drive, the word goes out to dozens and dozens of volunteers, who, like volunteer firemen, spring into action when the need arises. They come from every school and every background imaginable, and together we reach out to a huge slice of the university --engineering and music students on North Campus; Greek men and women on the south end; law and busniess students near the gothic Quad and medical personel in the Hospital, students and faculty and residents of every ethnic background and age.

Advertisements are placed in local media sources. Flyers and posters go up all over campus. Representatives of the MMDC go to speak in front of student groups of all kinds.

On the day of the drive, MMDC sets up shop in a large common meeting room; the Michigan Union, Pierpont Commons on North, Fursteburg Commons in the Medical School have seen MMDC drives before. The Red Cross arrives with it's professional phebotomists. Scores of MMDC volunteers come out the day of the drive to work short two hour or four hour shifts.

Some work inside the room the drive is held in, helping answer people's questions, taking medical histories, processing and filing the forms that identify the precious blood samples. Other MMDC volunteers boldly go forth to public areas and help educate people about the drive happening that day. Some go onto the quads and pass out flyers to passerby; others canvass dining rooms and lounges spreading the news. This direct, day-of-the-drive word of mouth is incredibly effective, and helps spread the word and plant the seeds in the minds of the people they educate.

Finally, at the end of the day, the Red Cross packs up the collected blood samples and sends them express mail to the central national laboratories where the marrow types are found and registred. Less than a week later, patient's lives are being changed and saved by the new types entered --and the MMDC officers are busy planning the next drive.

Thank you very much for taking the time to save a life.

people have taken the time to read about the effort to save lives since 5:34 PM on November 5th. Thank you very much for your help!