Possible bone marrow donor

[Anon]

Hello!
I have been on the bone marrow donation registry for about 10 years, well before I began flying. I recently got a call from the registry that I’m a match for a patient. I was wondering if it is still a possibility to donate without putting my medical in jeopardy. While I have an unrestricted 1st class, I did have to go through the situational depression criterion. Because I already had to put up a bit of a fight to get my medical in the first place, I’m not willing to jeopardize it. However if it would be possible to help this person without too much undo stress to keeping my medical and jeopardizing my career I would love to do so. I will contact an AME with my concerns but and advice is greatly appreciated

 

[flyingron]

Not a problem. Stand down for 48 hours after the donation. These days they do it with a plasmapheresis machine so it's less onerous than even giving blood.

 

[bbchien]

Nonevent! Yup, don't fly for 48....

 

[Lindberg]

Not a problem. Stand down for 48 hours after the donation. These days they do it with a plasmapheresis machine so it's less onerous than even giving blood.

They do it more often now with apheresis, but not always. If aphaeresis, you might have downtime before the donation as well as after due to side effects from receiving growth factor to overstimulate stem-cell production.

Even if they want to harvest surgically, which would be a bit longer downtime (like a week), I would still strongly encourage you to donate. My ex did and saved the life of a six-month-old child who wouldn't be teenager today if she hadn't donated. And yet 50-60% of the potential donors who get the call decline.

 

[Sierra1]

That’s awesome, glad people still sign up to help others out like that. I’ve been on the list for about as long. They sure pester me for plasma but haven’t got a call yet for marrow and such.

 

[Albany Tom]

Congrats on being kind enough to do this, and smart enough to check to make sure it doesn't wreck your career.