Oksana had never been a blood donor – she was always underweight. One day the girl saw information from the CITILAB laboratory about how to join the Federal Register of Bone Marrow Donors, filled out an application through Gosusgoservices and donated blood. A few months later, Oksana was informed that her genotype matched the genotype of the patient who needed a bone marrow transplant.

“I imagined that the situation was urgent, that in two weeks I would already be in the donation chair. But more time has passed. I had to cancel my vacation and fly to Moscow. Despite everything, I came. It was important for me,” Oksana recalls.

Stimulation of the release of hematopoietic stem cells into the bloodstream was accompanied by unpleasant sensations. The apheresis itself seemed quite easy to Oksana after the stimulation; she was no longer frightened by the unfamiliar symptoms.

“I am a medical officer and I understand what was happening to me. But the average person can be scared. That is why it is so important to share donor experience – honestly, without embellishments,” Oksana shares.

We are very grateful to Oksana for her incredibly important decision and invaluable contribution to saving the recipient's life.