1. BONE MARROW DONATION
“Carl Anka donated via the ‘bone marrow donation’ method.
“He stayed in hospital the night before his donation and the next day, he had a general anaesthetic
“He was asleep and didn’t feel anything while doctors used a needle and syringe to take the stem cells from the back of his hip (indicate to the audience)
“Carl had to stay in hospital while around from the anaesthetic but was then able to go home.
“Like most donors, Carl had a slightly sore lower back for a few days and felt tired. These symptoms pass in a few days
“Whichever method you donate by, you’ll be advised to rest for a few days
“While you do that, your stem cells will be taken to the patient, wherever they are in the world
Carl said: “My friend was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, and me and a lot of my friends signed up in support. To be honest, I signed up, and I mostly forgot about it. Then in February, I got the call to say that I was a match for someone. I spent a few days thinking about whether this was something I really wanted to do.
“After the procedure itself, I felt a bit tired. I play rugby so it felt a bit like I would after playing a rugby game – a bit tired and a bit of pain.
“You’d be surprised at how selfless you can be when the time comes. It’s an amazing thing, really.”