Be A Donor

Though you probably can't help me, there are always ways to help others by registering to be a donor. Here are some options:

• Give blood. In Canada, go to Canadian Blood Services to find out how, where and when.

  I was a blood donor - and that's how I found out I had a problem. Since I don't have any symptoms (at present, anyway), it might have been several months before I was diagnosed. Instead, routine blood tests when donating tipped me off early. So, give blood - the life you save may be your own!

• Get on the Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry.

  Since only full siblings are possible matches; even slightly further relatives are no more likely than any random person to match me. But it could happen, and it would be found if you were already registered. And maybe you'll match someone else, while some other random donor might match me. I'd call that even.

  Note that you need to be between 17 and 50 to get on the registry, but if you're on by that age they'll keep you on.

• Think about organ and tissue donation before the time comes that you don't need them yourself.