Why I donated bone marrow – and would do it again tomorrow

The operation took about an hour and didn’t hurt at all as I was under general anaesthetic. I was back in the office the next week after a few days of regeneration – and TravelTainmentwas more than accommodating as they back this kind of engagement very actively.

In 2012, TravelTainment started a company-wide employee campaign for the DKMS (Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei, German Bone Marrow Donation Association). 50 employees, including myself, did a quick and easy test for stem cells and two of my colleagues have already donated.

I am the third donor (and, one of our apprentices, Janina Clever, plans to be the fourth) and now not only my stem cells are registered, I am also blocked for two years with “my” patient. If he needs another transplant, I will be contacted to repeat the procedure immediately. After two years, I will also have a chance to get to know the person who received my stem cells.

This experience really changed my life because it’s more than just an anonymous process – rather you get to meet the recipient and see first-hand how much of a difference you’ve made in their lives – which is why I would do it again any time.

I am also happy to see that my colleagues in France have taken up the challenge of bone marrow donation with their ‘Give Life Programme’ and their new process to register employees for the Bone Marrow Worldwide Donors Database, which already has 90 Amadeus employees registered, a first for a company in France.

So, if you’re thinking about joining me and my colleagues, I have one bit of advice; do it! You can truly change someone’s life.

Here are some websites of bone cancer relief organisations: Germany,Spain,France,UK,Poland, and the United States.