Black Blood Heals

Beyond diagnosis: A mom’s perspective on blood disorders

Alaysha is a mom of two busy, happy, boys. In many ways her life is like that of most moms: juggling work and running around after her little kids. But she knows how precious these family moments really are, as both boys are now in recovery from a serious blood disease that was cured by a blood stem cell transplant. In this episode of NMDP Black Blood Heals, we hear her story.  Alaysha tells us about how her two boys were diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). This rare blood disorder means that sufferers don’t develop a healthy immune system, exposing them to extreme risk from everyday germs like the common cold. Luckily both boys were able to receive a blood stem cell transplant at a young age and Alaysha walks us through the whole process from diagnosis to recovery. We also hear how the disease affects other men in her family and what she wishes for her boys in the future, now that they are healthy and thriving.  Get Involved * Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S [https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S] * Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd [https://bit.ly/48moDxd] Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media [https://bit.ly/3V8LHJd] www.adodemedia.com [https://www.adodemedia.com] Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online: Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. * Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH [https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH] * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH] * Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH] * Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH [https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH]

Behind the scenes with an NMDP courier

In 2018, Lois went for a routine physical exam. The next day she unexpectedly received a phone call from her doctor telling her she had an extremely low white blood count. Further tests over the next few days confirmed her diagnosis: Lois had leukemia.  In this episode of NMDP Black Blood Heals, Lois walks us through her cancer diagnosis and the blood stem cell transplant that saved her life—thanks to an NMDP donor. Then you’ll hear her talk about her volunteer role as an NMDP courier where she takes life-saving blood stem cells after donation and transports them to the transplant center where the patient is waiting to receive their potential cure.  Get Involved * Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S [https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S] * Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd [https://bit.ly/48moDxd] Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media [https://bit.ly/3V8LHJd] www.adodemedia.com [https://www.adodemedia.com] Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online: Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. * Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH [https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH] * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH] * Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH] * Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH [https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH]

Dr. Rollins breaks down blood stem cell donation

Having your child diagnosed with a serious disease is a parent’s worst nightmare. But if it happens to you, you want to know that your child is in safe hands, being cared for by an expert medical team. In this episode of NMDP Black Blood Heals, we talk to Margo Rollins, MD, a pediatric hematologist oncologist, about childhood cancer and blood disorders.  Dr. Rollins discusses how blood cancers and disorders are diagnosed through different newborn screenings and regular childhood checkups. She also highlights symptoms that parents can look for. She goes into detail about blood stem donation and the two ways to donate—through peripheral blood stem cell or marrow donation as well as the and the differences between allogenieic and autologous transplants.  Dr. Rollins also addresses the need for more Black and African Americans to join the registry as potential blood stem cell donors to help more patients.  Get Involved * Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S [https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S] * Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd [https://bit.ly/48moDxd] Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media [https://bit.ly/3V8LHJd] www.adodemedia.com [https://www.adodemedia.com] Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online: Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. * Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH [https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH] * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH] * Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH] * Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH [https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH]

From blood stem cell donor to employee: Altonet’s full-circle story

Altonet joined the donor registry as a university student and years later received the call that would change her life. She was a blood stem cell donor match for someone in need of transplant.  In this episode, Altonet shares her donation experience and how she became a true supporter of blood stem cell donation—which led her to working for NMDP.  Altonet is passionate about adding more Black and African Americans to the donor registry. Hear as she acknowledges barriers and how her unique perspective as both a donor and an NDMP employee is helping to improve the donation experience for the future.  Get Involved * Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S [https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S] * Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd [https://bit.ly/48moDxd] Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media [https://bit.ly/3V8LHJd] www.adodemedia.com [https://www.adodemedia.com] Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online: Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. * Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH [https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH] * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH] * Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH] * Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH [https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH]

“I can thrive now”: Meet 12-year-old Kelsey and her mother

Life wasn’t always easy for 12-year-old Kelsey. Born with sickle cell disease, she had her first sickle cell crisis when she was just 11 months old. Throughout her childhood she had more than 35 hospital stays and approximately 25 blood transfusions. Even when she wasn’t in hospital, Kelsey had to manage pain, fatigue and reduced mobility. Kelsey found a matching blood stem cell donor and received a blood stem cell transplant. Now a year later, Kelsey is thriving.  Listen as we talk to Kelsey and her mom, Ebony, about Kelsey’s diagnosis, how they managed her disease and what life is like now post-transplant.  Get Involved * Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S [https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S] * Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd [https://bit.ly/48moDxd] Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media [https://bit.ly/3V8LHJd] www.adodemedia.com [https://www.adodemedia.com] Follow NMDP Black Blood Heals online: Listen to other Black Blood Heals episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. * Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH [https://bit.ly/SpotifyBBH] * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/ApplePodcastsBBH] * Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH [https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastsBBH] * Podchaser: https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH [https://bit.ly/PodchasterBBH]