My Experience with PBSC Donation
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on July 23, 2026
Well, itโs time to share something serious on this blog. Itโs not all puppies and cocktails in Kate-land, you know?
The long story short is that Iโm going to donate stem cells to a cancer patient. I donโt know the recipient. Iโve been asked not to share the few details that I do know about the patient, but Iโll gladly share what I can with you.
January 7, 2011
Hereโs the long story: When I was a senior in high school, I watched an episode of an ordinarily silly sitcom (remember Popular?). It was about a character who needed a bone marrow transplant but couldnโt find a match. He was sick and dying, and even though every family member and friend wanted to donate their bone marrow to him, no one could.
The tragic nature of his situation struck a chord with me, and it stuck with me. I made a promise to myself that once I turned 18, I would go join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).
Unlike so many of my good intentions that fall through the cracks, I joined the NMDP shortly after turning 18. Almost exactly seven years ago, I walked into the local blood institute and told the nurses I wanted to join the bone marrow registry. I filled out some paperwork and a nurse swabbed my cheek. That was it! The process took less than twenty minutes from start to finish.
Over six years passed. I went to college, had a blast, made mistakes, and learned a lot. I spent a semester in France. I graduated and eventually got a job. Every now and then, the registry would cross my mind. I wondered when I would be called to duty.
Late last summer, I got a letter from the NMDP. I had been identified as a potential match.
And so it began. That night, I filled out some basic information about my health online. Two days later, I went in for more blood tests. They seemed to be moving very quickly. I read online that there was only a 12% chance that I would be selected from all the potential matches, so I didnโt know what to think. A few months went by, so I assumed that they didnโt need me after all. Finally, I got a letter in the mail: I was a match, but they didnโt need me at the moment.
On December 3rd, the nurse called and informed me that I was indeed the best match. She asked if I would come in for more blood tests and to discuss the procedure with the doctor.
Before I spoke with the doctor, I was about 95% convinced I would donate. After all, someone needed me. I can only imagine the uncertainty, the hopes and the fears that the recipient must have felt about finding a donor. The night before I went in, I read through pages and pages of consent forms and physically shook as I learned more about bone marrow donation and PBSC donation, which are the two potential treatments. It was getting real, and I was scared.
The next day, I learned that the recipient is a young person, younger than me. From that moment on, I was 100% certain that I would go through with the donation. I felt that the recipient deserves to grow up, have fun, make mistakes and learn from them. More than anything, I hope the treatment will be successful and allow for a long and fulfilling life.
I endured a battery of tests to make sure I was healthy enough to donate. I went to the hospital for extensive blood tests, an EKG, a chest X-ray, and more. Fortunately, I passed all the tests with flying colors. Itโs easy to take our health for granted when everything is running as it should, but this is the first time that my health will directly impact someone else. Iโve never been more thankful for my health and more motivated to maintain it.
I also learned that Iโm going to donate peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCโs) instead of bone marrow. The success rates for PBSC donation are generally higher, and the donation process is less invasive. Basically, instead of drawing stem cells directly from the bone, they will inject me with a medicine called Filgrastim that increases the number of stem cells growing in my bones. A small portion of those stem cells will be released from my bones and float through my bloodstream.
After five consecutive days of injections, Iโll go to the Oklahoma Blood Institute to donate those stem cells (the peripheral blood stem cells) through a process called apheresis. Once they have collected enough PBSCโs, a courier will fly with my cells over to the recipient, who will be prepared to receive the transplant. Pretty rad, right? My cells flying in an airplane, on their way to save a life?
Iโll stop here. Iโve tried to explain everything in laymanโs terms so weโre all on the same page. Iโd like to share some interesting facts about donating stem cells and the rest of the story, if youโre interested. Today, Iโm going to receive my first shot of Filgrastim. Iโm nervous and scared, but excited. Wish me luck!
Update January 13, 2011
PBSC donation (and the snow) has come and gone. Iโm done! On Tuesday, I arrived at the blood institute at 8 a.m. for my fifth, and last, shot of Filgrastim. We waited an hour before beginning the donation. My wonderful nurse hooked me up to the big, scary, apheresis machine as I took deep breath after deep breath. I shed a few tears as she tried, without success, to stick a needle into my hand. Twice.
Breathe in, breathe out. Another nurse wiped away my tears; I was more overwhelmed by the prospect of being hooked up to the machine than I was by the pain.
Breathe in, breathe out. I stared up at the ceiling and, for some reason, started telling the story about how I once got trapped in Venice for a couple of days. (Stuck in Venice! Poor me.)
Breathe in, breathe out. Finally, I was all hooked up. The big, scary machine started pumping. And you know what? I barely felt a thing. It wasnโt that bad, which is surprising considering what it was doing: the machine was pumping blood out of an artery in my left arm, filtering out the PBSCs in the blood, and returning my blood to my body through the vein in my right arm.
I sat in that chair for four hours as the machine pumped away. During that time, I played on my phone, tried to listen to an audiobook (Water for Elephants), visited with my parents during lunch, and more than anything, chatted with my nurse. Sheโs a photographer, too, so we had plenty to talk about.
As time went by, the bag of PBSCs filled up. It was surreal. By the end of the four hours, the machine had filtered through all the blood in my bodyโtwice. I still canโt wrap my head around that.
Fortunately, unhooking me from the machine took much less time than hooking me up. My head ached a little, and I was hot from a low-grade fever, but free to go home. After all that, I could just go home. I watched as a technician came and took the bag of PBSCโs with him. I chanted, โGo cells go!โ to myself and prayed that the transplant would be successful.
A courier caught a flight with my cells Tuesday evening. I presume the transplant took place that night. I havenโt heard anything yet, but the transplant coordinator promised to update me as soon as she heard from the recipientโs coordinator.
I went to bed early Tuesday night and slept for 11 glorious hours. Today, I feel fine, other than that I get tired easily. In a few days, my body will return to its regular state of equilibrium.
I canโt say enough about the National Marrow Donor Program. The NMDP and the wonderful coordinator at the Oklahoma Blood Institute have kindly orchestrated this exchange between two strangers. If it werenโt for the NMDP and the kind individuals who have offered their help by joining the Be The Match Registry, the young recipient would have no hope for this type of life-saving treatment.
Furthermore, I have been awed by modern medical science throughout the donation process. How amazing is it that a drug like Filgrastim can stimulate my body to produce stem cells, the mother of all cells? How amazing is apheresis, the process that filters out those stem cells from my body? And after all of that, I can return to normal within days as my cells restore health and fight cancer in someone else. Pretty amazing.
Update May 9, 2012
Iโm overjoyed to report that my recipient is recovering well, though it hasnโt been easy. He graduates from college this weekend.
November, 2014
I met him on a trip to Portland, and heโs a great guy.
Please join the Be The Match Marrow Registry. If youโre willing and able, please join. Odds are that you wonโt ever be selected as a best match, but please be there in case someone needs you. Learn more about how to give here. Thank you!
Thatโs so amazing, youโre incredible. I hope it all goes well :)
Thanks, Jean! Iโm just hoping for the best possible outcome. Maybe someday Iโll get to meet the recipient!
Thatโs such an amazing thing that youโre doing. Quite a way to start the new year!
http://happensafterfive.wordpress.com
KATHRYNE what a selfless thing to do. Iโm really proud of you for doing this, let me know how it goes!
Good on you Kate. For the past 15 years I have worked in a lab that does the family matching tests for BM & PBSC. There is only a 1 in 4 chance that a sibling will be an identical match, so you can see how very important the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry is. You are truly an angel to someone out there !!
Wow! Iโm surprised to learn that you work in one of those labs, Deb!
I was really struck by that statistic when I was researching PBSC donations and HLA matching. I have two brothers, and it is scary to think that I may not be able to help them if they ever need a stem cell transplant.
Thatโs partly my motivation for donatingโitโs for all of the brothers and sisters out there who are hoping that someone will be there for their sibling in need.
amazing! good luck.
That is so amazing, Kate. I hope everything goes well :)
Belly B
http://www.bforbel.com
Way to go Kate! I joined the Canadian version of the bone marrow registry last year. Now I know a bit of what to expect if I ever get matched with someone. Good luck with everything and good for you for writing about your experience and raising some awareness!
Kerry, Iโm so glad youโre on the registry! Way to go! Iโm planning on posting more about the experience soon. So far so good!
Kate, thanks for sharing! Itโs very inspirational indeed. It is amazing to think that our personal health can effect someone elseโs. Iโve thought about it in terms of collective health benefiting the globe, but never so personally. Again, thanks for a new way of thinking about it and for sharing.
tears
Thank you, Kathryne. You are my inspiration. Praying for both you and the recipient.
Beyond impressed. What an amazing thing you are doing.
wow kathryne. Good luck. That is really inspiring!
I read this post when you first wrote it but was distracted before I had the chance to tell you that I AM SO IMPRESSED with you Kate!! That is a wonderful thing to do and I couldnโt even imagine what it must feel like to save someones life. You are truly an inspiration to us all!
Kate,
I signed up for the registry this past April and I have already been identified as a match. This Thursday Iโm going in for the physical and blood work, and I really hope everything goes through so I can donate.
You are wonderful and itโs really great to see someone in the same boat. :)
-Liz
Way to go, Liz! Iโm so glad to hear that youโre close to donating stem cells. I would truly do it all over again in a heartbeat. Itโs been a year now since Iโve donated, so Iโm hoping to learn more about my recipient soon. I hope hope hope heโs doing well!
Iโve just received my second Filgrastim shot. To anyone who is concerned about receiving their shots, donโt worry. It makes you uncomfortable, like all your bones need to crack but itโs a small price to pay to save another personโs life. Thank you for this post
Thank you, Jenna. Youโre doing a wonderful thing. I hope all goes well with your donation and that you feel like yourself again soon!
I am in the confirmatory testing phase. A one in twelve chance they say for being his ideal match. Iโm nervous but trust the outcome will be whatโs best for him. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Good for you, Linda. Iโm hoping for the best!
Kathryne,
Iโve read this several times before, but reading this again just now with the coffee mug you gave me sitting here on the table next to me, steaming gently, is the first time it has made me cry. Thanks to you, I will get to grow up, have fun, make mistakes and learn from them, just as you were hoping for me.
You are wonderful, with a compassionate, old soul and I could not be happier that you came into my life at the exact moment I needed you to.
Thank you, Bill, that means more than you know.
Thanks for sharing your story! I was googling the process and came across your blog. I was JUST notified today that Iโm the best match and will start the process of the
physical, EKG, X-Ray and etc. next week. This is so exciting and Iโm honored to be chosen as Iโm sure you were too!
Take Care,
Jenny
Jenny, Iโm so glad to hear that you will be donating. Please let me know if you have any questions about the process! I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I start my process soon. Thanks for the article. My family is more nervous than I so they will be glad to hear your info.
I made all my coworkers get swabbed last March for a woman in the community who has 4 kids and is dying of cancer. Last week I received a phone call saying I am a potential match for a 37-year-old woman. Under normal circumstances, Iโd be ecstatic to help someone. I just delivered a baby less than 2 months ago and am nursing. Itโs very tough knowing Iโd have to give up nursing, for Iโve waited almost 34 years to become a mother and my goal was to nurse for 12 months. Crappy predicament but I realize this 37-year-old woman may have children of her own and that my son will do just fine with formula. Iโll get over it emotionally and wanted to thank you for posting your story.
Rana, thank you for commenting. Youโre doing a wonderful thing.
Thanks for posting this Kate! I have just received word after โ19 YEARSโ of being on the registry that I too am a possible matchโฆI was so excited and I cannot lie a little scared (might be why Iโm doing a little research LOL). Now begins the process to see if I am the best match.
I will be directing my mom to your blogโฆsheโs a nervous wreck!
Elaine, Iโm so glad to hear youโre a potential match! You could save a life. If itโs any reassurance for your mom, I felt back to 100 percent in less than a week after the transplant, and my recipient is alive and well!
I was just browsing through the deliciousness here and come across this.
Iยดm really glad I did, I didnยดt even know there was such a thing. Twenty minutes later and I am now signed up for the swedish version. Thanks!
ps. I made the peanutsoup with fresh spinach earlier today, so satisfied!
Hi Agnes! Thank you for commenting. Iโm so glad to hear that you joined the Swedish registry. You could save a life! Also happy to hear that you enjoyed the soup!
Hi I know iโm late to the game on this and realize this is a silly questionโฆ.but who pays for all of the testing, shots, hospital visit etc ? Do you use your own insurance for this ? Iโm just wondering as a person who does have insurance but very large deductibles etc, i would hate to join a list, get selected and then realize it would cost thousands for me actually fully go through the process. I assume there is something in place for this but Iโm just wondering.
Hey Tara! Thatโs a very good question. The bone marrow foundation and the recipientโs insurance covered all of it. I paid nothing.
I did my initial labs today after being identified as a match last week. Iโve been told PBSC is my recipientโs preferred method, so Iโve been scouring the internet for information. I have a huge fear of needles โ so much so, that I delivered 2 children w/o drugs (not even a heplock), and have fainted watching other people get shots, donate blood, an even just from being in the room supporting a woman (as a doula) who was getting an epidural. So yeah. But I made it through 6 mega huge tubes of blood today w/o passing out, so thatโs a victory for me. I just kept reminding myself that someone is facing death, and this is nothing when I know Iโll be able to sleep w/o fear tonight.
My next biggest mental obstacle is the filgrastim injections โ where do they inject this stuff? I canโt seem to find that anywhere online.
I really appreciated being able to read your post-donation post as well. It really helps a lot to hear donor accounts of the process in my quest to prepare myself mentally for this.
If itโs easier, feel free to utilize my email to reply to my questions. I appreciate any info/insight/tips you can share about the process leading up to the donation.
Meredith, I think itโs so awesome that youโre willing to donate even with your fear of needles. They can inject Filgrastim anywhere, I think. They asked me where Iโd prefer. I actually opted for my stomach, which sounds crazy, but thatโs because it hurt less there than elsewhere. Please let me know if you have any more questions!
P.s. I really do not recall the shots being painful, for what itโs worth.
I just wanted to say thank you for this post! I read another one of your posts originally that gave me the information on your donation. I had never thought to donate before or even really knew about it. I just signed up and have you to thank. So truly, thank you!
Marissa, thank you so much for signing up! You might save someoneโs life someday. :)
Thank you for doing this! My brother died of leukemia 8 years ago, but we did get an extra year with him because of a transplant from a donor. My entire family is on the registry and I hope one day Iโll get called to donate.
Iโm so sorry to hear that! I canโt imagine. You are so welcome!!
Hi Kate,
Iโve been using your recipe site for yearsโa top go-toโand somehow this evening, I found your post about your donor experience. Thank you for sharing your story. It is a beautiful one.
I lost my brother to leukemia 32 years ago. He did have a bone marrow transplant from my sister. How Iโd love to know him now, so many years later.
Cheers, and thank you for this wonderful site and sharing your creative energy.
Rita
Iโm know Iโm seeing this years after you first posted, but I wanted to thank you for raising awareness! I never knew this existed and as I read this I signed up for the registry! Waiting to get my swab in the mail :)
This looks absolutely delicious! I love how youโve explained each step so clearly.