Beth
MEET BETH
It was May 2021, and Beth Ades went to her local doctor with strange bruises on her legs, but otherwise felt great. Bloodwork showed critically low platelets and she spent the night in the hospital. Soon after, Beth had her first bone marrow biopsy. She received her first platelet transfusion later that month.
Beth's blood counts began to drop and it was determined she was in bone marrow failure, which meant her body was only producing immature blood cells that were dying before becoming full cells. She began receiving platelet and blood transfusions at least twice per week, just to stay alive. She was given a diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome in November of 2021.
Her doctors determined that she would need an allogenic stem cell transplant to live. Both of Beth's sisters were tested to see if they could be a stem cell donor, but neither was a match. The National Marrow Donor Program (formerly known as Be The Match) located a 19-year old female from Germany who was in their database. The NMDP contacted the potential donor, and she agreed to donate her stems cells to Beth.
Beth then moved to Rochester, Minnesota in February 2022 to begin chemotherapy to completely irradiate her immune system so that her body wouldn’t fight the new stem cells. She had 18 rounds of chemotherapy in 6 days, then her transplant was on February 17, 2022. She was required to live in MN for 100 days following the transplant.
She required more than 70 transfusions that kept her alive before she received her stem cell transplant. Now, thanks to the amazing donor, her body is producing healthy blood again.
The NMDP is a worldwide organization that matches blood cancer and blood disease patients with a donor. A cheek swab is all you need to get on the registry. Almost anyone under the age of 40 can join the registry. Stem cell matching is through your genetics and HLA, so the more people that join the free registry the more patients, like Beth, have the opportunity to have a match and live. For more than 80% of people, the process to donate stem cells is similar to donating platelets, through and IV in your arm.
I know first hand how the generosity of blood and stem cell donors can save a life. There is no substitute for blood or stem cells, no medicine could cure me but donors did. I still get to be a mom and wife because amazing people took time out of their crazy, busy lives to donate. I am thriving in life, all thanks to my donors!" - Beth Ades
It takes less than an hour to donate blood, and our communities benefit directly from your donations. Schedule your donation today at lifeserve.info/schedule, and positively impact someone in your community.