Donating bone marrow is a cure for serious blood diseases. Almost 2,000 people benefit from a transplant each year to treat different types of cancer, such as leukemia, myeloma or lymphoma, as well as in cases of aplastic anemia, thalassemia or sickle cell anemia. Patients with bone marrow failure also suffer from anemia, hypersensitivity to infections, or severe bleeding. In order to encourage this donation that saves lives and dispel the misconceptions surrounding it, the Biomedicine Agency is launching a campaign around a “ugly” Christmas sweater.
75% of donations are made by blood test
Indeed, the donation of bone marrow suffers from certain ideas that keep life hard. Because the bone marrow is often confused with the spinal cord, most people imagine that it is taken from the spine. However, 75% of these samples are taken by blood test. Because the donation consists in fact in giving a small quantity of bone marrow or, more precisely, of the hematopoietic stem cells which compose it. It also contains the cells that are used to make blood cells like platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. Thus, only one in 4 samples requires a simple surgical procedure, at the level of the bone of the pelvis.
With kitsch decorations, flashing lights and less sleeve (to remind you that a blood test is enough), the sweater aims to attract the attention of the youngest and invite them to register in the donation registers. To do this, you just need to be between 18 and 50 years old at the time of registration (the donation can be made up to the age of 60), to be in perfect health and to answer a medical questionnaire. However, the compatibility between the donor and the recipient is weak, so registration does not necessarily mean becoming a donor.
“On the occasion of Christmas, make the most beautiful gestures! Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry and give a stranger an extra chance for recovery! “, declares on its website the Biomedicine Agency. She invites everyone to show off their best Christmas sweater under the hashtag # LeplusBeauPulldeNoël to publicize the donation. Influencers have already shown themselves with the one-sleeve sweater, to show their support for this still too little known cause.
Like Michel Cymès, let people know about bone marrow donation by posting a photo of you in your accounts with your most beautiful Christmas sweater, sleeve rolled up, accompanied by the hashtag #ThePlusBeauPullDeNoel and the following words: pic.twitter.com/SApXt6oQSN
– Life Watchers (@moelleosseuse) December 17, 2018
Read also :
- Bone marrow donation: raising awareness among men
- #JoyeuxNouvelAnniv, a hashtag to encourage bone marrow donation
- Testimonial: I donated my bone marrow
