Your email preview

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are taking care of yourselves during these challenging times.

I was curious about how many of you have joined the stem cell registry or have ever donated blood.

As you may know, over 80 diseases and disorders -including leukemia, lymphoma and aplastic anemia- can be treated with a stem cell transplant. At any given time, there are hundreds of patients in Canada waiting to find a matching donor. Fewer than 25% of patients find a match within their own family, the other approximate 75% must rely on someone they’ve never met to save their life. The eligibility requirements for stem cell donation are much more relaxed than in blood donation so this is a great option for those who are ineligible to donate blood.

Normally, we would register interested students to the stem cell registry at our monthly in person stem cell drives. However, now that we are online, we ask that you follow the following steps to become a potential stem cell donor.

Register to Become a Potential Stem Cell Donor

Click here: blood.ca/Stem-cell-club1
Click on the “start questionnaire” button. This 3 question form will determine if you are eligible to donate stem cells.
Click “Accept and register”

Here you will request a swab kit to be delivered to your home. Once it has arrived, you will be able to swab your mouth/ cheek cells and return the swab kit in the mail for processing.

As you know, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of blood donations has decreased substantially, so any and all donors are highly appreciated.

The Canadian Blood Services has strictly followed the advice of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Enhanced cleaning, physical distancing measures and wellness screening checkpoints for all individuals are in place to ensure your safety. In compliance with public health authorities, blood donor centres will no longer be accepting walk-ins. Those wanting to donate blood should book an appointment.

Book an Appointment to Donate Blood:

Click here: blood.ca/nextgenUBC
Then click “Book now”
Enter your location and select the blood donation site that is most convenient for you!

Blood + Stem Cell Donation Info Night

We're hosting a Virtual Info Night this Thursday Nov 26th from 4PM-7PM
-Individuals interested in donation can hop onto our Zoom call anytime between 4pm and 7pm. You will be put into a breakout room with one of our volunteers who can help answer any of your questions and walk you through the new donation process! We'll make the donation process easy!

Event attendees will be entered to win one of three $10 Starbucks Giftcards

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/899142117562505
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84884819879

Tanner

Meet 7 year old Tanner McLeod. At 6 months old, Tanner was diagnosed with a rare form of anemia called sideroblastic anemia. This means he is unable to produce healthy red blood cells of his own so he needs monthly blood transfusions. The only cure for Tanner is a stem cell transplant. He has been searching for a donor for 6 and a half years and still, he hasn't been able to find a match in the worldwide registry. The best match for Tanner will likely be someone who shares his Indigenous ancestry.

Only 1.3% of the Canadian Blood Services' Stemcell Registry is made up of people of Indigenous ancestry making it hard for patients like Tanner to find a match!

Boston

Meet-3-month-old Boston. After a recent bone marrow biopsy, doctors diagnosed Boston with a rare, life threatening disease called Hemophagocytic Lymph Histiocytosis (HLH). HLH is a severe systemic inflammatory syndrome that can be fatal. Boston urgently needs a stem cell transplant but has yet to find a donor. Boston is a mix of Filipino and Caucasian so the best match for him is likely someone who shares his mixed ethnicity.

Only 1.1% of the Canadian Blood Services' Stemcell Registry is made up of people of Filipino descent and 3.5% of mixed ethnicity making it hard for patients like Boston to find a match!