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.

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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
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• Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH
• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH

Welcome to the Season Close Out of Black Blood Heals. In today's episode, our host, Tamara Weston, reflects on the impactful conversations and insights shared this season. She highlights the diverse range of guests, from physicians discussing the need for more diverse stem cell donors to touching stories of patients and donors.

Throughout the season, Tamara and our guests have highlighted the importance of joining the registry and the significant impact individuals can have on someone's life with a stem cell transplant. The conversations have emphasized the necessity for people to make informed decisions about joining the registry and understanding the potential impact on their lives and the lives of others.

Tune in to Black Blood Heals to gain a deeper understanding of each person's critical role in saving lives through the NMDP registry.

We hope this season has inspired you to learn more about the life-saving potential of joining the NMDP registry and consider how you can make a difference.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Season 5, where we will continue to bring you compelling stories, valuable insights, and resources on ways to be a change agent and save lives in your community.

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
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• Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH
• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH

Welcome to Black Blood Heals, where we highlight the impactful stories of blood stem cell donors.

In today's episode, our host, Tamara Weston, sits down with Eboni Nash, a recent donor, to walk us through her donor journey and share insights into the experience of being a stem cell donor. Eboni joined the registry in March 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, and received the call to donate in August 2021, just a year and five months later. She generously shares her entire journey, from joining the registry to going through the bone marrow donation process, and how she has become an advocate for getting more people involved in the registry. Tune in to gain valuable insight into the donor experience and the impact of joining the NMDP stem cell donor registry.

Listen to Eboni's inspiring story and advocacy for increasing registry participation.

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
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• Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH
• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH

Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," the podcast spotlighting the cutting-edge advancements in treatments for inherited blood disorders. In today's pediatric-focused episode, we are honored to have Dr. Staci Arnold, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist, join our host, Tamara Weston, to discuss groundbreaking therapies reshaping the lives of young patients. Dr. Arnold brings a wealth of expertise from her work with children ranging from newborns to young adults, mainly those battling sickle cell disease and bone marrow failure syndromes. Today, we're zooming in on the complexities of sickle cell disease, the significance of early detection and ongoing research into gene therapy, and the importance of holistic care including pain management and encouraging physical activity within individual limits.

During our deep dive, Dr. Arnold shares insights on the necessity of newborn screening for conditions like sickle cell disease, emphasizing the critical role early intervention plays in managing this inherited disorder. With a passion for patient education, this episode highlights the misleading nature of initial sickle cell testing and the varied expression of symptoms over time, while touching upon the typical signs in toddlers and newborns.

Dr. Arnold advocates for empowering families with knowledge about when to manage episodes at home, and when to seek professional medical help. As we explore the evolution of understanding and treatment options for sickle cell and blood cancers, it’s clear that Dr. Arnold's work reflects the mission at the heart of "Black Blood Heals": to bring hope and healing to the youngest patients facing these challenging conditions. To learn more about blood stem cell therapy, transplantation, and to consider joining the fight against blood disorders, visit nmdp.org and become part of a movement that changes lives.

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
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• Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH

Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," where we explore the groundbreaking world of blood stem cell therapy. In today's episode, brought to you by NMDP, we are joined by Dr. Edward Ziga, an esteemed pediatric specialist in blood marrow transplant and blood stem cell therapy. Dr. Ziga provides crucial insights into the unique challenges faced by the black, latino, and black caribbean communities in need of stem cell transplants, particularly in relation to sickle cell disease and other disorders. As we unravel the complexities of donor-recipient matching, we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of ethnicity and ancestry in donations, as well as the disparities in access to donors for patients with diverse heritages. Dr. Ziga's work in Ghana also sheds light on the global impact of blood stem cell therapy and the opportunities to save lives beyond borders.

We learn about the criticality of expanding the donor registry to include more diverse ethnicities to improve the chances of finding matches for patients from underrepresented communities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for more individuals, regardless of their background, to join the registry and become potential life-saving donors. Dr. Ziga's passion for his work, dedication to helping patients, and commitment to building a global network for advancing stem cell therapy inspires a call to action for all listeners to consider becoming part of the solution. As we strive to make a lasting impact, we are reminded that it takes all of us to save just one of us.

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 another engaging episode of Black Blood Heals. Today, our host, Tamara Weston, is joined by Karla Dawson, the program manager on the health equity team at NMDP. They delve into the crucial topic of access to transplants and the services NMDP offers for searching patients and patients who have received transplants.

Karla provides insight into how NMDP is working to ensure equitable access to transplants and resources for all patients, particularly focusing on the needs of the sickle cell community. The discussion touches on the challenges faced in achieving health equity, the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare disparities, and the importance of raising awareness about transplant options.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into NMDP's efforts to bridge the health equity gap and support patients in their journey to receive life-saving transplants.

Join us in discovering the vital role of NMDP and its dedication to addressing the disparities in healthcare and working toward a future where every patient has equitable access to life-saving treatments.

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