“Donate stem cells, save a life!”
Interesting news report of last September 26th about the first post lock-down stem cell donation, at the Bone Marrow Donor Center of the Department of Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII of Bergamo, directed by Anna Falanga.
This donor center belongs to the IBMDR (Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry), which enlists potential donors and collects their cells when there is a patient who needs them all over the world.
Fondazione ARTET supports these activities and collaborates in several research projects, whose final goal is getting the proper tools in order to help and improve the lives of chronic and frail patients.
Last June, while there still was a very critical epidemic situation, Marco, a 28-years-old boy from Val Seriana, the Italian epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, received a call from the doctors of the Donor Center of Bergamo. Without any thoughts, as soon as Marco heard of a possible patient compatible with his cells, he immediately went to the hospital for the stem cells donation.
Marco is now back at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo with the RAI TG1 journalists to make an appeal: “If you are between 18 and 35 years old, register to the IBMDR – Italian Register of Bone Marrow Donors. With a small gesture, you may save a life. “