Donor: Theresa's Story

Theresa Lundowski

Oneonta, New York
Stem Cell Donor: 2020 and 2023

I never could have predicted how inspirational my journey with Be The Match (now NMPD) would be. 

NMDP is dedicated to helping individuals who have a blood cancer or other blood disorders and need a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.  

In 2017, while I was in college, I was invited to join the NMDP registry. I felt strongly inclined to sign up. It simply required a quick cheek swab. They mentioned that my chance of matching with someone was slim.

A few years later, I completely forgot I had registered to be a donor. Then, in May 2020, amidst the pandemic, I received a voicemail from a representative at NMDP informing me that I had matched with someone. I was taken aback and shocked. I called the representative back, and our conversation lasted nearly two hours. He said that the individual needed a peripheral blood stem cell donation, and he reviewed my health history to determine if I was a potential donor.

We quickly scheduled an appointment for me to undergo blood work. I had to repeat the blood tests multiple times to ensure accurate results and to verify that I was healthy enough to donate my stem cells.  

Exactly 61 days later, I received the call confirming that I was indeed the best match for the recipient and that they wanted to proceed with me as the primary donor. 

We scheduled my donation for November 24, 2020, just two days before Thanksgiving.  

Prior to donating, I needed three daily injections of filgrastim to move stem cells out of my bone marrow into my bloodstream. My coordinator and I discussed the various ways I could administer the injections. I could give them to myself, go to the hospital for the injections, or have someone else help me. Luckily, a coworker who had previously worked as an EMT kindly offered to assist with the injections.

I took the filgrastim injections for five straight days. Before starting, I was informed of possible side effects, such as joint, muscle, and bone pain, nausea, and headaches.  

On the first day, I didn't experience many side effects—only a headache and discomfort in my hips. However, by the second day, the side effects intensified. I faced significant joint and muscle pain as well as a migraine that hung around for several days. I was advised to take Tums® to enhance my calcium level and use Claritin® to alleviate some discomfort.

I was set to donate at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, which was roughly an hour's drive from my home. I found out that, since my veins weren't in the best condition, I would need a central line inserted for the donation.  

On November 24, 2020, I arrived at the hospital bright and early, around 6 am, and had my central line placed. While the procedure was a bit uncomfortable, it didn't hurt much—just a feeling of pressure during the placement.  

Once the central line was in place, I was taken to a private room to continue with the donation. 

The hospital staff were fantastic. They addressed all my concerns and helped ease my mind. After about 6 to 7 hours, I completed the donation and went home.

The following day, I felt exhausted and just wanted to take it easy. Fortunately, all the side effects of filgrastim faded away after the donation.  

During the entire process, I couldn't contact my recipient; the entire experience was anonymous. I would have the chance to exchange contact information with my recipient once a year had passed.

The donation was an emotionally charged experience for me. At first, I felt shocked and excited about the opportunity. Still, I couldn't shake thoughts of my recipient's challenges. I held onto the hope that my stem cells would make a difference in his journey toward healing.

One year later, after donating my cells, I was allowed to contact my recipient. Connecting with him stirred up a whirlwind of emotions. We shared our experiences, each offering insights into our journey. 

We finally met in person for the first time in April 2024, which was one of my life's most unforgettable moments.

In February 2023, I received another call from NMDP. To my amazement, I learned that I had matched someone else. I was completely caught off guard. I had assumed the chance of matching with even one person was relatively low, yet here I was, matching someone for a second time.

The donation process felt much quicker this time. I was scheduled to donate on April 13, just two months after I got the call. I went through the same steps as my first donation, but unlike my initial donation, I had to travel from New York to Zion, Illinois. My coordinator was amazing and handled all my arrangements, and NMDP took care of all my expenses.  

When I arrived at the hospital on the day of my donation, I learned that instead of using a central line to collect my cells, they would place an IV in each of my arms: one to draw my blood, which would then be sent through an apheresis machine to extract the stem cells, and the other to return the processed blood back into my body. The entire process lasted about three hours, and afterward, I returned to my hotel room and caught my flight home the next day.

Seven months after my second donation, I learned that my second recipient had passed away. This news hit me hard. I felt profound sadness over his loss and the realization that my donation hadn't provided the help we had all hoped for. I began to question if there was more I could have done.

My NMDP coordinator was incredibly supportive during this challenging time and helped shed some light amid the darkness. She reminded me that because of my donation, my recipient had an extra seven months of life  I often reflect on him and his family, pondering who he was beyond his illness.

I experienced emotional highs and lows during my donations, yet I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was an invaluable experience. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to sign up or inspire others to do so because you never know who might benefit from your help.