1. 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