Please, please, please do this people!  I have been on the registry for years.  Back when I did it 18 years ago they had to take several vials of blood to test.  It's so much simpler now.  The odds of finding a "match" are not very good outside of the persons' family.  A sibling donor is the most comaptible option but the odds are not in your favor just because you are related.  My brother was diagnosed with CML- chronic myelogenous leukemia in his forties.  My oldest sister was as close a match as they could hope for.  He was very lucky.   My other sister and I were not even close but yet we found out we could donate to each other if the need for organs etc. ever became necessary.  The irony is that my sister that donated her marrow lost her first born child to leukemia in 1979 at the age of 3.  The process was very painful for my sister but she didn't hesitate to save our brother.  It was a horrible, difficult couple of years for my brother.  The recovery process is less than fun to say the least.  He came through it all and is still kicking!

I was wanting to know if once signed up on the registry you are still there years later? I signed up years ago when they had a drive for I believe the little girls name was McCaully.

I remember that!  Wasn't that at Stockdale High?  I don't know how long you stay on it.  I was under the impression that it's indefinite.  Anyone know???

Bowe first got involved nearly a decade ago when a young leukemia patient named Mikella McAuley was in the news. BakoBeachBumm  and mrsearnhardt88, I believe she's the little girl you remember. The 6-year-old was desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant, and her family's plight inspired thousands to register in Kern County.

In fact, Bowe was one of more than 2,000 who responded by registering with the National Marrow Donor Program.

Ironically, a match for Mikella was never found. She died of complications related to leukemia in October 2001. The little girl who had inspired so many to register never directly benefited from their generosity. But others have.

At least seven tissue matches have been established so far from the original 2,000 who signed on for the lifelong commitment as potential donors. But more donors are needed.

 Steve- do you know how long you stay on the registry?

I think it's lifelong and they send you cards to update periodically.  I just got an update form a month or so ago from my registration about five years ago.

http://www.marrow.org/DONOR...

I don't think I have ever received any cards.  But when I think about how many times I have moved in the last few years that's not a surprise!

You can click the link I provided and re-enter your information.  They ask for donor numbers but accepted just SSN and birthdate.

Once you're on the registry, I believe you remain on it for life, or until you become too old to donate.

mrsearnhardt88, you may still be on the registry, but they may no longer have your current contact info.

Thanks for the link random!  I just updated my info.  Kinda worries me a little to think that if I haven't heard from them that I missed a contact from them.  

I had the privilege of being a bone marrow donor (stem cell) four years ago.  Sadly the person I donated to did not make it..her condition was very far advanced when she was given the transplant. Donaters are not allowed to know the condition of the recipient for one year after donation..I prayed for her every day during that year..the news was hard to hear. I got a note from her family after, thanking me for the extra time they were given with their loved one.

It is SUCH a simple process to register to be a donor..please do not hesitate.  If given the opportunity to donate again I would do it in a heartbeat.  I regularly update my contact information for that reason.

Remember..the need for a donation could just as easily some day be you or one of your loved ones.

 Thank you for being a donor LvlyWords.  The world needs more people like you!  I completely understand that my brother is an exception to the rules.  Knowing the odds going in to his procedure, I know what a blessing it is that he has made it through.  18 years and counting!  We had the best case scenario with a sibling donor but that guaranteed absolutely nothing.  That is why it is so important for people to register.  It's a needle in a haystack finding a compatible donor so the more they have registered, the better the chance of finding a donor.  Step up people!  And bless you LvlyWords :)

Just updated mine as well. Hope that I will someday be able to help my fellow man with the gift of life. I have donated over 3 gallons of blood and many liters of plasma as well.