Together we can save lives History of Be

Together, we can save lives.

History of Be The Match 1979 – Laura Graves received the first bone marrow transplant for leukemia 1987 – First transplant was conducted as the National Marrow Donor Program® 1997 – First use of peripheral blood stem cells in NMDP transplants 1998 – Launched umbilical cord blood transplant program 2020 – Over 100, 000 transplants facilitated 6, 426 transplants last year alone

Juwan’s story

Every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer • For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and other life-threatening diseases, a cure exists through a blood stem cell transplant. • 70% of patients who need a transplant do not have a matching donor in their family. • These patients rely on the Be The Match Registry to find an unrelated blood stem cell donor.

Finding a match • Matching is more complex than blood types and is done based on your Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) type • Patients are most likely to match with a donor from a similar ethnic background

The need for diversity 6

Qualifications to join • Between the ages of 18 – 44 • Meet health guidelines • Willing and committed to donate to any patient in need Zain, donor

Two ways to donate a small discomfort to SAVE a life Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) Bone marrow (requested by doctors 79% of the time) (requested by doctors 21% of the time) • This is similar to donating plasma or platelets. • Donors feel no pain or discomfort during the donation. This is an outpatient procedure. • Some achiness before the collection. • Some soreness after collection.

Lauren, PBSC donor

How donated cells help patients • A healthy blood system is always making new blood-forming cells. If the body begins making diseased cells or not enough healthy cells that person may need a transplant. • The donated cells will settle into the patient’s bone marrow and produce new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

It’s free to save a life • Donation is free • Be The Match covers travel, meals and hotel for you and one companion, tolls, parking, mileage, daycare, missed wages and pet care • All medical costs are covered by the patient’s insurance or Be The Match 12

Trust and privacy We keep your information private and confidential • Be The Match has a very strict confidentiality policy • Maintaining public trust is essential • Your personal identifying information will not be shared with any companies or government agencies 14

After donation • Patient and donor safety is our top priority La. Shonda, recipient • Anonymous contact is usually allowed during the first year (Be The Match and the transplant center help to facilitate this) • After 1 year, both the patient and donor can consent to being contacted Akeem, directly by one another donor

Laila meets her donor, Kenton

How to join the registry Text Tulane. Cures to 61474

Thank you! For more information, visit: Be. The. Match. org Camille, searching patient