Why Josh donated stem cells
Josh is 29 and lives in Sydney. He joined the stem cell donor registry because he heard how easy it was. A simple sign-up, and he was on the list.
If you’re aged 18 to 35, you can join online and a cheek swab kit will be sent straight to your door. That’s it. No cost, no appointments, just a few simple cheek swabs and 5 minutes of your time.
He could have pulled out. But he didn’t.
Just before his donation date, Josh was hit by a car. Around the same time, his bike was stolen. He could have said no. He could have postponed.
But he showed up anyway.
He donated his stem cells and helped give someone else a second chance at life. What a legend.
How do people donate their stem cells?
For most people, it feels like a long plasma donation.
Josh donated using a process called peripheral blood stem cell collection. That’s how 90 percent of people donate in Australia.
For four days, he gave himself daily injections. These helped his bone marrow produce more stem cells and moved them into the bloodstream. On the fifth day, he went to the donation centre and sat in a recliner while a machine filtered out his stem cells. His blood left one arm, passed through the machine, and returned through the other.
Does stem cell donation hurt?
The daily injections made Josh feel sore and tired. He needed to rest. Even so, he went ahead with the donation and said he was glad he did.
With everything going on, Josh said he was just relieved it could still go ahead.
Most donors recover quickly, usually within a day or two. Your body naturally replaces the stem cells. There’s no medication or follow-up required. Because your body constantly makes new stem cells, you won’t miss the ones you give.
Can you meet the person who gets your stem cells?
Not right away, but maybe one day.
In Australia, there are rules to protect everyone’s privacy. If you donate to a stranger, you must wait at least two years before contact is allowed. Even then, it only happens if both the donor and recipient agree.
Josh doesn’t know who received his stem cells. He only knows they live overseas and urgently needed a transplant.
He hopes it helped. Even if he never finds out who they are, he knows he did something that mattered.
Want to be a legend like Josh?
You don’t need to be a doctor or a superhero to save a life. You just need to show up.
Josh did. Even when life threw serious curveballs his way, he followed through. Someone, somewhere is alive today because of it.
If you’re aged 18 to 35 and healthy, you can do the same. Signing up takes minutes. It’s free, simple and could change someone’s life forever.
Be a legend. Join the stem cell donor registry
References
TLR Foundation – Become a stem cell donor
Stem Cell Donors Australia – FAQs