On this episode of Black Blood Heals, we’re bringing back one of our all-time favorite guests, Donna! Donna is a blood stem cell transplant recipient who we featured on an episode last year with her blood stem cell donor, Tiana.

Today, Donna is celebrating being cancer-free for five years and we’re catching up with her to find out how her life has been since her blood stem cell transplant. Listen to her talk about how she lives her life now and how she supports the work of the NMDP. We also look to the future to find out what changes Donna wants to see to help more people through their blood cancer journey.

Links:

• Listen to our previous episode with Donna: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140861/episodes/14408951-the-gift-of-life-donna-and-tiana-s-unforgettable-encounter

Get Involved

• Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S
• Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd

Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com

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Why would someone refuse to donate blood stem cells once, but then accept to become a donor later? On this episode of Black Blood Heals, we talk to Jeremiah who turned down the first request he got to become a donor. In a full circle moment, he later accepted and gladly donated his blood stem cells to help save the life of a person in need.

Jeremiah explains why he first joined the NMDP Registry and how he felt when his first call to donate came through. We explore the concerns that led him to refuse to donate and why he later regretted his decision. Then, we discuss what happened when he got a second call to become a donor and what the process of donation was like.

If you’ve been thinking about joining the donor registry, particularly if you’re a member of the Black or African American community, listen to Jeremiah’s story and hear his inspiring message about how you can become a hero through donating your blood stem cells.

Get Involved

• Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S
• Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd

Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com

Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online:

Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH
• Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH
• Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH
• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH

Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," the podcast that delves deep into the revolutionary world of blood stem cell therapy. Today's episode, brought to you by NMDP, explores the profound intricacies of donor-recipient matching with a special focus on the unique challenges faced by African American patients. Joining us is the esteemed Dr. Rafeek Yusuf, Director of Health Services Research at NMDP, a man whose life's work is dedicated to ensuring life-saving therapies are within everyone's reach.

In this vital conversation, we'll unveil the patient's complex journey from diagnosis to transplant, unravel the barriers shaped by social determinants of health, and the monumental role of insurance in this life-altering process. Dr. Yusuf, who also co-chairs the Racial and Ethnic Inequities committee, will shed light on how a mere 25-30% of patients find a full match in the registry and discuss why ethnicity and age are crucial in donor matching, with African American patients facing a staggering 71% chance of not finding a match.

The discussion will also touch upon how the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes tied to social determinants. We'll learn why grassroots mobilization, knowledge dissemination, and fostering trust in the medical system can bridge gaps in treatment for conditions like sickle cell disease.

Now, if you've ever considered becoming a donor, stick around. We're about to dive deep into why your decision could mean the world to someone else. And remember, you can arm yourself with more knowledge and find out how to become part of the solution by visiting nmdp.org. Let's join forces to make a lasting impact.

Get Involved

• Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S
• Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd

Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com

Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online:

Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH
• Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH
• Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH
• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH