Every year, thousands of people in France, suffering from serious blood diseases such as leukemia, depend on a bone marrow transplant to hope for a cure. Bone marrow transplants replace diseased bone marrow with healthy marrow, often a life-saving treatment. However, the success of this operation depends on a rare genetic compatibility between donor and recipient, making each entry on the donor register crucial.
Why donate bone marrow?
Becoming a bone marrow donor means offering a patient a chance of life. Anyone in good health, aged between 18 and 50, can register. After a medical interview and compatibility test, the donor is registered on the national registry. This process, coordinated by the Agence de la biomédecine, links French donors with international registries to increase the chances of finding a compatible donor.
How does bone marrow donation work?
Bone marrow can be collected in two ways. The first, cytapheresis, involves stimulating stem cells in the bone marrow to migrate into the bloodstream, where they are harvested without anesthesia. The second, a harvest from the pelvic bones, is performed under general anaesthetic and requires a short hospital stay. In both cases, the donation is safe for the donor and covered by the state.
GT Company’s support for Adelaide
For the past three years, GT Company has actively supported the Adelaide association, a self-help group for leukemia patients. This partnership enables Adelaide to increase its awareness-raising activities and support for patients and their families, thanks to the company’s financial backing. Together, GT Company and Adelaide are working to increase the chances of a cure and promote bone marrow donation, a gesture that can transform lives.
By choosing to register as a donor, you become a “Life Watcher,” ready to respond to an urgent need for healing.
