Polina began her donor journey as a student by donating whole blood at various events. Before joining the Registry, the girl thought about the decision for a long time.   

“I decided to join the Federal Register only in October 2024, but consciously: not with the idea that everyone goes and I will go, but with the feeling that it is me who wants to do so,” recalls the girl. 

At the time of the match with the recipient, Polina was abroad. The registry of Pirogov University organized blood collection for confirmatory typing and transportation of the blood tube to Russia.

Polina was supported in her decision to become a donor by all her relatives. The girl donated hematopoietic stem cells using the apheresis method. The donation lasted five and a half hours and went perfectly, despite a slight reaction to the anticoagulant. 

“Bone marrow donation scares a lot of people out of ignorance. You have to ask questions, look for answers in credible sources. One should not join the Registry if one has doubts. Only false hope is worse than inaction. To refuse at any stage is scary. Many people do not realize that the patient on the other side is much scarier,” shares Polina. 

The girl admitted that she would like to see her recipient and find out who he is. The Pirogov University Registry would like to thank Polina for giving the patient a chance for a full recovery.