“Our gratitude to you is beyond words. You have saved my daughter’s life...We will teach her to be a good person that passes on your kindness and generosity to whoever in need in her life.” Lu Guang, a postgraduate student at Tianjin University’s School of Mechanical Engineering recently received a handwritten letter of thanks for his donation of haemopoietic stem cells to a 10-year-old girl who has been plagued by thalassemia for nine years.
On October 28, 2022, Lu Guang made the donation and became the 331st hematopoietic stem cell donor in Tianjin and the 16th in Tianjin university.
Lu Guang first got to know about China Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) in 2017 when he participated in a voluntary blood donation campaign promoted by China University of Petroleum (Beijing). Till this day, Lu still remembered how impressed he was hearing one doctor say that adding a little blood sample to the bone marrow bank may save a life with a successful match.
“China is estimated to have millions of leukemia patients but only about 10,000 donors, so donating blood stem cells is extremely meaningful. It would be much significant if I can save a life and bring the hope of survival to a stranger.” With that thought in mind, Lu joined the CMDP eventually and became one of the thousands of donors waiting to help people.
A determined donor
It took five years, from 2017 to 2022, for Lu Guang to be successfully matched with a recipient. Once the match was confirmed, Lu Guang started to learn about the stem cell transplant process and the preparation work through the Red Cross right away.
Lu had to go through a high-resolution sampling and a comprehensive physical examination as well. Strict diet control and a regular life pattern are also required before donation. Lu was well aware that even all things went as required, the probability of a high match rate was still low, and that he might go to all the trouble for nothing. But Lu decided to carry on.
“The main reason is that I want to save her and I am willing to save her.” To people who are healthy, it is just some cells; but to those who are waiting to be rescued, it is their motivation and hope to survive.
A demanding yet fulfill process
On October 24, Lu Guang went to the Tianjin First Central Hospital to receive pre-treatment before donation, and on October 28, the hematopoietic stem cell collection began. “I was very nervous during the surgery, and the doctors and nurses were all comforting and encouraging me.” It lasted for 4.5 hours, and even though the pain intensified due to muscle spasms, Lu Guang gritted his teeth and persevered. The hematopoietic stem cell collection was successfully completed, and the precious bag carrying hope of life was sent to the recipient’s hospital.
Rcalling the physical changes during the blood drawing process, Lu Guang noted that the donation would do no harm to the donor’s body. “As I was injected with a hematopoietic stem cell mobilising agent for the proliferation of stem cells before the blood draw, my heart beat a little faster, and my body ached afterwards. My physical function declined in the two days after the collection, but slowly recovered in about two weeks.” Lu thought the pains were well paid since it may bring a life changing point for the recipient.
Lu felt overwhelmed with the letter of thanks from the recipient’s family.
“I have done little to help them. They are so kind to think so high of me.”
It is Lu’s sincere hope that more people could learn about the significance of hematopoietic stem cell donation and join in it. “One man’s power is limited, but the concerted power of a group, a community and the whole society will, save more lives and pass on tremendous hopes and warmth,” said Lu.
By Ran Shuangshuang
Editor: Eva Yin
