THROUGH THE BLOODSTREAM – PBSC* “Stephen (pictured) is donating through the bloodstream “A nurse visited him at college once a day for four days and gave him a small injection “That stimulated his body to produce more stem cells and send them into the bloodstream – some people feel achey and tired during this part “On day 5, Stephen went to the donation centre (which can be London / Sheffield – for him it was Sheffield) “He had a needle in one arm, which took blood to a machine that filtered off the stem cells “The rest of the blood went back into his other arm “The whole process takes 4-5 hours – you can watch DVDs, go online or take a friend / relative with you. “Donors say it’s not painful but a bit tiring. “Stephen said he was happy to give up some time to help a patient: ‘We’d all like to think that a stranger would step up in our time of need, but sometimes we’re that stranger.’ *PBSC = peripheral blood stem cell