We live in a world where people readily judge others based on their appearance.
Anywhere we go, we try to avoid people who look different; people who fight fall under the category of “creepy and dangerous” even without us knowing if we really ought to be afraid of them. Is this our natural defense mechanism to protect our lives or is it because we have gotten too haughty that we easily look down on others?
In the video created by filmmaker Nancy Spetsioti, a family arrived in the waiting area of the doctor’s clinic and immediately moved away from the lone man who arrived before them.
When the nurse ushered them in, they were surprised when the man was also asked to join them. They were ashamed of themselves after hearing the doctor praise the young man, introducing him as the blood marrow donor!
Here’s the video:
Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant is one of the three possible options available for patients who need multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC); the other options are transplant from peripheral blood or from umbilical cord blood.
This dangerous procedure is often viewed as a last resort, when all other options fail; thus, it is used only in patients with life-threatening diseases. Though the treatment is currently reserved to cancer, it has been used in autoimmune diseases.
Most of the patients who undergo this type of transplant are those suffering from cancers of the bone marrow or the blood, including various types of leukemia, tumors, and severe forms of anemia.
It is important to understand that the procedure is quite dangerous and extensive tests must be done to ensure the patient and the donor have compatible human leukocyte antigens (HLA).
Aside from adult donors, patients can also receive HSC from cord blood which contains more HSC than in adult blood but usually comes in small volumes; thus, cord blood is best used for children while adults would need HSC from other adults.