24
Uncertainty and Altruism: From the Perspective of a Stem Cell Donor and Recipient
By Judy Chen, Shannon Gui, Farnia Khoshsorour, Edward W. Li, Gar-Way Ma, and Tina Mahmoudi
Crossroads: “a point at which a crucial decision must be made that will have far-reaching consequences”. We encounter countless crossroads on our journey through life, but not everything is under the control of our own decisions. Illness and death, for example, are often beyond human control. On the other hand, the power and choice to save the life of another is something we each possess. Many patients suffering from leukemia, autoimmune diseases, and other blood disorders are desperately seeking stem cell transplants as their hope for survival. These patients may be strangers in a foreign land, or they may be people closest to our hearts. As healthy individuals, we have the choice to register as potential stem cell donors, and the choice to proceed with the donation if found to be a match with a patient. Here are the stories of two extraordinary women – one a stem cell donor and the other a stem cell recipient – providing first-hand perspectives on a common crossroad that has had an enormous impact on their lives. Stem cell donor Nikki Reklitis is a first year medical student at McMaster. Originally from Ottawa, Nikki worked as a social worker at the Ottawa Hospital, the same hospital where her bone marrow harvest procedure was completed. Although Nikki was unable to contact her recipient, she did discover that her recipient’s transplant was successful, and that they were able to live for three more months before passing away.
Stem cell recipient Erin Morrison is a first year nursing student at McMaster. As a recipient of a stem cell transplant via bone marrow to treat aplastic anemia, she was inspired by her experience to pursue nursing. Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious condition whereby the bone marrow and stem cells of the patient are damaged, resulting in the inability to generate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Fortunately, Erin’s brother was found to be her perfect match, and became her donor.
A Match Nikki If you had to chance to meet the person to whom you donated your stem cells right now, what would you say to them? I just feel so grateful for having the opportunity to donate [and] to be a part of something that could possibly have given them a little bit more time with their family. I would’ve wished to have known a little bit more about them, and I’m just so sorry that they passed away. I also always wondered about how they
THE MUSE • SPRING 2018