UCT MA student donates stem cells to help save a life

At the time, registering was a simple decision. A friend had told her about stem cell donation and having already registered as an organ donor and regularly donated blood, Caitlin saw it as another way she could help someone.

Then, she got the call and was informed that she had been identified as a potential match for a patient in need of a stem cell transplant.

“I never expected that I would ever match with someone.”

“My first call was to my mother, a trained nurse, who was excited about the possibility of me helping someone. I, however, had questions. Would donating hurt? What would the process involve? And would she be able to go through with it?”

“But then I thought, I only had to spend a few hours being uncomfortable to save someone’s life. For me, any discomfort then was worth it.”

The days leading up to the donation were not without challenges. Caitlin got nervous and experienced some side effects from the medication used to stimulate her stem cell production but by the morning of her donation, she was all good.

When she arrived at the hospital, Caitlin says the nerves returned, but the medical team helped reassure her and made sure she was comfortable throughout the process.

“The nurses and doctor involved were very friendly and did everything possible to ensure I was comfortable.”

For Caitlin, that moment put everything into perspective.

What had started with a simple online registration had brought her to a hospital, where she was donating her stem cells to someone she had never met.

Caitlin registered in 2022 without knowing if she would ever be called. But she was and she showed up.

Be like Caitlin and register as a stem cell donor. If you are already registered, remember to keep your contact details up to date so that you can be reached when the time comes.