Hispanic Heritage Month is all about celebrating the culture, community and contributions of people of Hispanic descent. From the warmth of character to the pride of giving back to others, Hispanics are eager to help those in need.
A life-changing decision
Catherine, who’s proud of her Hispanic roots, wasn’t thinking of herself when she donated blood stem cells to a fellow Hispanic who needed them to survive. Blood stem cell transplants can save the lives of patients with blood cancer and other blood disorders.
Now 25, Catherine joined NMDPSM, formerly Be The Match®, donor registry in college. Five years after signing up, she was matched as a donor for a female patient in need.
Without hesitation, Catherine, drove from San Antonio to Houston to donate her blood stem cells. The process lasted two days, and Catherine had back pain and was uncomfortable. But she has no regrets and looks forward to meeting and hugging the patient who received her blood stem cells.
“This experience lasts your whole life and I would do it again if I could,” she says. “I am grateful that I was able to give and do something that would help in so many ways.”
Impact a life
Another Hispanic donor, Trish, a 35-year-old dog groomer signed up for the registry after learning about NMDP at the hospital and watching Facebook videos of patients in need of a life-saving transplant. Joining was as easy as swabbing her cheek and sending the swab back to NMDP so her HLA (human leukocyte antigens) type could be added to the registry.
When Trish got a call that she was a match for a patient, she was nervous but wanted to help the Hispanic man who needed a blood stem cell transplant. In the spring of 2023, Trish donated and while she felt tired after, she knew she did the right thing.
“You just need to give a little of your time, and it can change that person’s life and the whole family. It has a large ripple effect,” she says. “My first thought when I heard the recipient was a man, was that he was someone’s dad and has kids. Everybody wants to live. Everyone has someone who is important to them.”
A wonderful feeling
Matches are based on inherited genes called human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which people of the same ethnicity are more likely to have in common. According to NMDP, only 13% of people registered to donate are Hispanic or Latino.
The more Hispanics who sign up for the registry, the better the odds of making a match and potentially saving a life. Anyone in good health and aged 18 to 35 can sign up for the registry, which provides access to more than 41 million donors worldwide. Donors don’t have to pay to donate, and NMDP raises money to eliminate financial barriers for the patients who receive transplants. Donors like Catherine and Trish inspire their communities. They’re calling on more Hispanics to sign up for the donor registry, too. “You should do it,” Trish says. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Click here to learn more about NMDP
