SALT LAKE CITY — A 26-year-old woman donated bone marrow one year ago. She always wondered about the bone marrow recipient and how the procedure went. Until now.
A friend of Sarah Baytop Scott posted one of her Facebook posts to Imgur Sunday. The post has since gone viral.
“One year ago this month, I received a phone call from the national bone marrow registry letting me know that I was a match for someone; a woman in her 50’s. At the time of the phone call, the patients health had been declining so drastically, that doctors needed to expedite the donation process. Within two weeks of the phone call, I was flown to Minnesota twice, once for general testing and the second time for the donation process.
The week before my donation I was given injections by a nurse, twice a day, for five days, to increase white blood cells. I was told that these injections produce so many white blood cells, that there would be a high risk of my kidneys bursting if I didn’t donate marrow within a few days. Turns out I’m some medical freak, roughly 17 people out of over 8,000+ donors who have been part of the process, react the way I did, and by react, I mean literally no reaction to the drug whatsoever. I ended up spending the night in the hospital and had to do the entire donation process twice.
Leaving the hospital was probably the saddest moment, after doctors told me that they couldn’t collect the amount of marrow they needed for the patient, but would attempt to work with what they were given. Other than one update, I spent the last year wondering who she was, and how she was doing.
Today, I received my very first letter from her….”
The letter was from the 50-year-old woman whose life was saved by Sarah’s bone marrow donation.
“Dear friend,
I have had a year to think about what I was going to write and how I could express how much gratitude I have for you. For your generous act of kindness. Thankful that you were a perfect match. 12 out of 12. WOW.
Thank you for giving me time to meet my grandson and granddaughter, and get to meet another granddaughter in a couple weeks. There are no words to describe the love I have for these special gifts in my life. I am thankful for having more time with my wonderful family and my outrageous and life loving friends that I have had for over 30 years. We are all so thankful.
You are a special gift. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and you had a special place in all of our hearts last Thanksgiving and will always be part of my favorite day, I am blessed that you are part of me, as I am 100% donor on last testing.
Thank you for donating, and thank you for giving me more time with my sweet grandchildren, loveing family and fantastic girlfriends. Oh, and am so very glad to be back at work. I also have a wonderful work family who are very supportive and grateful for you.
Again, my deepest gratitude and blessings,
Your humbled recipient”
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Sarah says she was inspired to donate bone marrow four years ago after a friend expressed the importance of donating and posted a link to Be The Match, which manages the world’s largest bone marrow registry.
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