Make the trip worth it | Sepia Mutiny

The annual South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) conference begins next weekend. I think that SM bloggers and quite a few of our readers have made it pretty clear what little respect we have left for SASA, which seems to have lost its way (see previous posts 1,2). If you are a student who has not yet arrived at the conclusion that we have, and you have decided to attend next weekend, then I have a critical mission for you. I believe that there exists a way in which you can make the trip to New York worth it. The SASA conference will once again hold a Bone Marrow Drive. Make sure that you take the time to give just a few drops of your blood.

Thursday Jan 12th: 1:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday Jan 13th: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Ballroom Floor
At The New Yorker Hotel
481 8th Avenue at 34th Street
New York City
Take a look at these faces…they are just like you and me! Look at the fellow South Asians and ask why can’t we save them and help many more, who are likely to be in same situation in the future. It does not matter if you are from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh; it does not matter if you are Hindu, Moslem, Christian or Jain. What matters is, that we all share the same genetic pool, and we save each others life!

You can probably show up for the drive even if you aren’t there for the conference. Need more motivation? Help Save Ashish:

Ashish has undergone a great deal of suffering since first admitted at Texas Children’s hospital on September 26, 2005. He has been in and out of the hospital, first admitted at Texas Children’s hospital on September 26, 2005. requiring transfusions, fighting infections, undergoing bone marrow biopsy’s and surgeries. He has to check his blood levels every week and needs transfusions regularly. In spite of the pain he has gone through he has an incredible inner strength that is portrayed in his beaming smile and good nature. While we pray for a miracle his only medical hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant.

Why do we keep blogging about bone marrow drives? It’s an issue that we are all pretty passionate about. Plus we know that our efforts are appreciated. My mom told me that Smita, whose husband we blogged about before, was touched by the sentiments and genuine concern shown by SM readers when she discovered the site. I have to believe that at least of few of our readers participated in the drive at the NetIp Conference as a result. Plus, we owe it to our Friendster to carry on the fight in which she went down swinging.

15 thoughts on “Make the trip worth it”

I’m already in the bone marrow donor registry, but I still tell as many people as possible whenever I hear about a drive. Seriously, it doesn’t take that much, and you’re doing a really good thing. Karma points-wise, it’s the best bang for your buck. Take a few minutes out – all you’re doing is putting yourself in the registry. They hardly take any blood out, and it’s actually pretty unlikely that you’ll end up being called to donate. But the bigger we make the pool of potential donors, the bigger the chance given to those who aren’t left with much hope at all.

And if you decide to go to the drive, holler at me, and I’ll take you out after! What more of a reward could you ask for? 😉

i’m so terrified of needles, i don’t get flu shots…i even faint at the sight of my own blood. yet, i did it, in 2004 in DC. so, the rest of you have no excuse, since no one could be a bigger candy than me. please get printed. it’s a tragedy that more of us aren’t in the database.

Even more reason to get yourself in the database. (sorry for the cached version, the non-cached wasn’t linking)

Matchpia.org, the largest “grass roots” effort in the world to educate and recruit individuals to becoming “lifesaving” bone marrow and stem cell donors, has uncovered discriminatory practices at the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which hinder South Asian and other ethnically diverse minority patients from having an equal opportunity at finding a donor match. NMDP is a not-for-profit organization with a worldwide marrow donor registry that runs on federal funds. According to Tim Dutta, Executive Director of Matchpia.org, “The NMDP registry of donors is heavily weighed to “favor” greater chances of finding a match for patients of Caucasian decent, rather than ethnically diverse patients. This fact has been evident since the registry was created in 1986 (funded by HRSA-Congress and DOD- Department of Defense), however, what we realized, is that the leadership at the NMDP has done very little to effectively communicate the importance of becoming a bone marrow and stem cell donor in the South Asian and other ethnically diverse communities.”

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

Yes , I have had the same experience, they will not take blood from Indians, ie FOBs. I was told that if you have stayed in the US for more than 3 years without going back , then they will accept my blood…..

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

They will accept blood if you have’nt travelled to India in last 1.5 years or 2 years. Sometimes, they waive any such restrictions. (Due to need) I donated right after the Texas A&M bone-fire incident when there were about 20 college students were injured and they needed blood in the Dallas area. They took my blood eventhough I had travelled to India within 1 year of the time of donation.

donate donate, get into the registry…. you can save a life… now that is something truly amazing…

i love SM. what compassion! we really forget about the important things in life, especially when they are teh minor details of life, like giving blood or marrow or whatnot.

it’s so fulfilling.

your 16 year old reader.

The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

Only if you have been to India or other malaria-prone countries within a year or so. A while ago, even UK was on the black-list due to mad cow disease.

That kid looks so sweet that my teeth are falling out. Bravo – great cause. I’m scared of needles too, but I did it anyways at a past desi event. It’s our duty for sure.

Ok. shame on me, I keep telling myself IÅ½m gonna register but havenÅ½t done so yet. This will be a New Year res that I will fulfil!

IÅ½m not sure the blood donation restrictions apply to bone marrow too…does anyone know?

IÅ½m not sure the blood donation restrictions apply to bone marrow too…does anyone know?

if you are talking about the restrictions of donation related to travel.. then I know that it DOES not apply to marrow registration. All they do is take a sample of your blood in a test tube. Thats it.

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

Hmm they check passport at blood donations. That hasnt been my expereince….All i was asked to do was to fill out a form. I dont remember them taking down an ID or anything.

I recently started donating blood as soon as I turned 17, well over the summer I got a tattoo and I can’t donate for a year. Does anyone know if the blood donation restriction apply to donating bone marrow, because I just had my 18th birthday and would like to donate. Thanks for the help!!!

katrina – congratulations on your 18th. that’s a huge decision. You are right that they ask you to wait some time after getting a tattoo before giving blood (actually it is 6 months in canada but US may be different).

regarding marrow donation – the first stage is gettng on the marrow registry. one is only called upon to donate a marrow if a suitable match to your blood is found. to register you are asked to submit a cheek swab which means that you may be able to get on the registry without any blood being drawn from you – but to be an actual donor you will likely still need to wait through the mandated period.

but i am not a doctor (not a medical practitioner at least :-/) so i’ll vait for some m.d. to pop in and illuminate. thought i’d drop in my 2 cents, compliment you on your emotional intelligence and congratulate you on your 18th. woo hoo!

Fuerza Dulce on January 6, 2006 at 3:49 am said:

I’m already in the bone marrow donor registry, but I still tell as many people as possible whenever I hear about a drive. Seriously, it doesn’t take that much, and you’re doing a really good thing. Karma points-wise, it’s the best bang for your buck. Take a few minutes out – all you’re doing is putting yourself in the registry. They hardly take any blood out, and it’s actually pretty unlikely that you’ll end up being called to donate. But the bigger we make the pool of potential donors, the bigger the chance given to those who aren’t left with much hope at all.

And if you decide to go to the drive, holler at me, and I’ll take you out after! What more of a reward could you ask for? 😉
A N N A on January 6, 2006 at 3:52 am said:

i’m so terrified of needles, i don’t get flu shots…i even faint at the sight of my own blood. yet, i did it, in 2004 in DC. so, the rest of you have no excuse, since no one could be a bigger candy than me. please get printed. it’s a tragedy that more of us aren’t in the database.
Sajit on January 6, 2006 at 9:06 am said:

Even more reason to get yourself in the database. (sorry for the cached version, the non-cached wasn’t linking)

Matchpia.org, the largest “grass roots” effort in the world to educate and recruit individuals to becoming “lifesaving” bone marrow and stem cell donors, has uncovered discriminatory practices at the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which hinder South Asian and other ethnically diverse minority patients from having an equal opportunity at finding a donor match. NMDP is a not-for-profit organization with a worldwide marrow donor registry that runs on federal funds. According to Tim Dutta, Executive Director of Matchpia.org, “The NMDP registry of donors is heavily weighed to “favor” greater chances of finding a match for patients of Caucasian decent, rather than ethnically diverse patients. This fact has been evident since the registry was created in 1986 (funded by HRSA-Congress and DOD- Department of Defense), however, what we realized, is that the leadership at the NMDP has done very little to effectively communicate the importance of becoming a bone marrow and stem cell donor in the South Asian and other ethnically diverse communities.”
Wondering on January 6, 2006 at 6:24 pm said:

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.
WesternGhaat on January 6, 2006 at 7:06 pm said:

Yes , I have had the same experience, they will not take blood from Indians, ie FOBs. I was told that if you have stayed in the US for more than 3 years without going back , then they will accept my blood…..
RC on January 6, 2006 at 10:02 pm said:

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

They will accept blood if you have’nt travelled to India in last 1.5 years or 2 years. Sometimes, they waive any such restrictions. (Due to need) I donated right after the Texas A&M bone-fire incident when there were about 20 college students were injured and they needed blood in the Dallas area. They took my blood eventhough I had travelled to India within 1 year of the time of donation.
chick pea on January 6, 2006 at 10:34 pm said:

donate donate, get into the registry…. you can save a life… now that is something truly amazing…
sophie khan on January 6, 2006 at 11:17 pm said:
i love SM. what compassion! we really forget about the important things in life, especially when they are teh minor details of life, like giving blood or marrow or whatnot.

it’s so fulfilling.
- your 16 year old reader.
Kush Tandon on January 7, 2006 at 1:10 am said:

The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

Only if you have been to India or other malaria-prone countries within a year or so. A while ago, even UK was on the black-list due to mad cow disease.
Raj on January 7, 2006 at 11:46 am said:

That kid looks so sweet that my teeth are falling out. Bravo – great cause. I’m scared of needles too, but I did it anyways at a past desi event. It’s our duty for sure.
technophobicgeek on January 9, 2006 at 11:30 am said:

Ok. shame on me, I keep telling myself IÅ½m gonna register but havenÅ½t done so yet. This will be a New Year res that I will fulfil!

IÅ½m not sure the blood donation restrictions apply to bone marrow too…does anyone know?
RC on January 9, 2006 at 8:59 pm said:

IÅ½m not sure the blood donation restrictions apply to bone marrow too…does anyone know?

if you are talking about the restrictions of donation related to travel.. then I know that it DOES not apply to marrow registration. All they do is take a sample of your blood in a test tube. Thats it.
Guru Gulab Khatri on January 10, 2006 at 1:33 pm said:

A few months back i went to donate blood and it turns out in the US they won’t accept blood donations for ppl with Indian passports. The guy showed me a list of “black-listed” countries … India was there becuase of the prevelance of malaria there.

Hmm they check passport at blood donations. That hasnt been my expereince….All i was asked to do was to fill out a form. I dont remember them taking down an ID or anything.
Katrina on December 20, 2006 at 1:08 am said:

I recently started donating blood as soon as I turned 17, well over the summer I got a tattoo and I can’t donate for a year. Does anyone know if the blood donation restriction apply to donating bone marrow, because I just had my 18th birthday and would like to donate. Thanks for the help!!!
hairy_d on December 20, 2006 at 1:40 am said:

katrina – congratulations on your 18th. that’s a huge decision. You are right that they ask you to wait some time after getting a tattoo before giving blood (actually it is 6 months in canada but US may be different).

regarding marrow donation – the first stage is gettng on the marrow registry. one is only called upon to donate a marrow if a suitable match to your blood is found. to register you are asked to submit a cheek swab which means that you may be able to get on the registry without any blood being drawn from you – but to be an actual donor you will likely still need to wait through the mandated period.

but i am not a doctor (not a medical practitioner at least :-/) so i’ll vait for some m.d. to pop in and illuminate. thought i’d drop in my 2 cents, compliment you on your emotional intelligence and congratulate you on your 18th. woo hoo!