What are everyday heroes?

Everyday heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They don't wear capes, they don't fly, and they don't need superhuman strength. They just need motivation, a positive attitude, and commitment.

Commitment to life.

When people are faced with a life-threatening illness requiring a marrow transplant, the last person they expect to help them is a complete stranger, but that's just what marrow donors often are. Everyday heroes are both those who use every resource of strength they have to survive a marrow transplant and those who give of themselves to save the life of another.

It doesn't take much to register as a marrow donor, just the time it takes to complete a consent form and have a test tube of blood drawn. You are invited to register as a donor if you are between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health.

Here's what's involved:

We will review your consent form and contact you to arrange for your blood to be drawn in or near your hometown for a "tissue typing" test. Your tissue type numbers will be entered into our computer as well as the National Marrow Donor Program's computer. The computer is searched daily for possible matches. If you are one of the lucky few whose tissue type is similar with a patient in need, you will be contacted for further blood tests.

Further testing may show that you are a match.

You will be asked to come to The University of Iowa Hospitals for an information session with special counselors who will review the donation process. You will also undergo a physical examination. After being fully informed, you may then give your consent to donate stem cells.

The chances of any two unrelated people sharing the same tissue type are between 1-in-100 to greater than 1-in-5 million.

That is why marrow donors are so necessary and finding a match is such a miracle. Less than 2 percent of the people who have registered with our program have been asked to donate their marrow. The only way to find life-saving matches for patients is to tissue type millions of volunteers around the world who are willing to offer the living gift of life.

Marrow donation is an outpatient surgical procedure done in an operating room.

You will be given anesthesia (general, spinal, or epidural) during this simple procedure. No more than 5 percent of your marrow, which is liquid, is collected from the back of your pelvic bone using a needle and syringe. You may feel some soreness in your lower back for several days after the donation. Your marrow naturally replenishes itself within a few weeks.

Survivors of a marrow transplant are everyday heroes, who need motivation, a positive attitude, and the good fortune of finding a suitably matched donor.

Marrow donors are everyday heroes, who offer the gift of life by becoming members of the Iowa Marrow Donor Program. It's not often that a person can perform such a simple act with such a profound effect on someone else in need.

Donating marrow is simple.

If you want to become a marrow donor or would like more information, contact the Iowa Marrow Donor Program at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics at 1-800-944-8220.