Your Stories

This page is dedicated to you and your stories. Send me an E-mail at Bonemarrowawareness@gmail.com 

Russ Jones

  This is Russ Jones, He donated his Bone Marrow in the late 90′s and has been very kind ans shared his story with us and his views on people joining the donor register.

It all started when I gave blood through the Welsh Blood service,, I saw a Poster informing about getting on the Donor list, I made an inquiry about being a Donor ? The Nurse helped me giving me literature and said that she would put my name on the list. Sometime later I had a letter Thanking me for doing so, and it explained that I would ONLY be contacted if I was a Match for someone in need of a Transplant. About Five years later in 1998 / 99, I received a letter from The Welsh Blood Service asking if I still wished to participate and would I attend the Centre near Cardiff as a Transplant was needed and I was just one of six potential Donors.

I attended the appointment and it was explained that I was the Closest match and would I still be a Donor to which I just said Yes,, I was then taken to see a Doctor who was very kind, and answered every conceivable question I asked and even some I didn’t. He explained the transplant was for a Young Boy aged 9 years who lived in the North Of England and that he had gone through ALL the treatments available to him, and that a Transplant was now the ONLY option, it took about a Nano Second for me to say let’s get on with t NOW,, The Doctor explained the Process, and a few weeks went by and I was asked to attend the BUPA Hospital in Cardiff, upon arrival I was informed that the Lad was very ill and they would not take the chance on the transplant at this time, so I was asked if I would return when he had recovered sufficiently to be able to receive the transplant. About a Further six weeks passed and I was again asked to go to the Hospital.

I was booked into a Private room with TV and I was informed that I would have a Private Nursing Sister to look after me and make sure I was comfortable and treated properly. I have to say I was treated Like ROYALTY from the moment I booked in, my wife was booked into an adjacent Hotel so she could be near and available when I was checked out. Later that evening a Doctor attended my room and went through the procedure from start to finish, leaving NOTHING out, we went outside for a walk and we had a great chat, which stopped any apprehension I may have had. At 09:05 the next morning I was informed that we would be going down to have the procedure. ALL I can say it was a VERY Relaxing sleep of about 15 minutes, and I was awakened with a Lovely mug of tea.

I was then informed that I could go home as soon as the doctor had spoken with me and I should be on my way around 14:00 that afternoon. The doctor came in and explained that ALL had gone really well and that I was now to take 10 days of work as I had had an anaesthetic and it was generally accepted Practice to do so.

I had NO Pain what so ever No pain afterward, No scarring No effects in any way that can be imagined, and like everyone before me l listened to people saying about how painful it was and they didn’t Know ANYTHING about it at all,, They spoke in IGNORANCE as most do in order to give themselves an excuse for NOT being a Donor. Please DON’T Make that mistake and let it keep you from getting on the List

I have never met the young lad to whom I gave marrow and he is now about 21 years Old, and if he reads this ALL I have to say is “It was My Pleasure and My Honour to Help You get well, and I Sincerely Hope You Live a VERY Long and HAPPY Life.

Signing onto the list is NOTHING,,, You have more chance of winning the Euro Lottery than becoming an actual Donor, but the more Donors there are on the List the LESS Suffering there will be.

One thing before you stop reading this,, It’s No good saying “AHH” or “OOHH” when someone puts a posts of a Child with Leukemia on Facebook,, and You Share the post, You Re post to show You care, It’s not that You really care it’s that You NEED People to believe You do. This is what I call conscience Posting,,,

You MIGHT just be the one who holds a cure in your blood stream,, and Your marrow could STOP their suffering,, SO Before You make a Comment or Share the Photo,, think about getting on the list and Make it Count and ACTUALLY Make a Difference, not just a Comment.

THINK,, What if it was Your Child, Mother or Father,, Leukaemia holds No life Sacred, it has No class barriers and can attack anytime to anyone,, Neither Power nor Wealth can prevent it.

You can Help Though with just a Little Blood or Saliva, and getting on the List, Whoever or Wherever You are.

If I can do it ,, SO Can You ,, so PLEASE Help save a Life today,,

Give a Little time and some Marrow,,, so they can have a Second Chance at LIVING AGAIN,

Russ Jones
Bone Marrow Donor
Swansea