Bone Marrow. Be the Match!

Did you know you can give your immune system to another person?

We found out today that both of us parents and one of our kids is a half match with Peter’s bone marrow. Then we remembered that the origin of Rebecca’s mastocytosis is in the bone marrow, so she is out as a donor. There are further tests to be done, but as a younger donor is usually preferred, it’s Peter’s doppelganger little brother Nate who is the likely donor. That’s just what we all anticipated. Nate himself hoped to be the match because we told him he could play video games during the entire 4-6 hours it takes to collect the bone marrow (if they do use the “peripheral” collection method). Further tests will determine if a half match (called a haplo) from the family or a full match from the general population will be better for Peter. Nate trembled with fear when they stuck that needle in his vein a couple weeks ago. This time he is prepared. And afterwards he gets to choose a popsicle from the hospital cafeteria so he’s pretty pumped to get stuck with a needle again.

A bone marrow donation is necessary for some cancer patients for two reasons. One, it allows higher doses of chemo, which attacks the fast-growing cancer cells but also affects other fast growing cells such as hair and bone marrow. Two, another person’s white blood cells, their immune system, will hopefully recognize that cancer cells shouldn’t be there and will attack them. Doctors call this the graft versus cancer effect. The thought of Peter having his little brother’s immune system is kind of crazy and kind of cool.

Several people have offered their bone marrow for Peter. That is incredible generosity. But the chances of any one person being a match for Peter are one in millions. But you might be a match for another Peter, someone you don’t even know. That would be an even greater demonstration of love. People have offered their bone marrow because they know and care about us and Peter. It’s an even greater thing to offer your bone marrow for a person you’ve never met. It’s like the love of God shown to us in Christ, who died for us while we were separate, excluded, foreigners, strangers, without hope (Ephesians 2:12-13, 19).

Modern medical technology allows people to demonstrate love and give hope by donating their own blood and bone marrow. Peter has received a lot of blood. If his current treatments go well he will then receive someone’s bone marrow. So yes, go ahead and join the bone marrow registry. You’ll find the info you need at http://bethematch.org. 

The Bible says Christ gave his blood for us. The basic meaning is that Christ has given his life for the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. Is there some sense in which Christ has given us a new immune system, a life-saving transplant?