Ilya has been a whole blood donor since his student days. He was awarded the badge “Honorary Donor of Moscow”. The young man joined the Federal Register at the action in Gorky Park, where he helped the organizers.

“In February 2025, for the first time I received a call and was informed that it was necessary to give a tube of blood to confirm the coincidence of genotypes - the patient's and mine. There was no doubt: after all, I had already joined, and now someone needs me to get well,” Ilya recalls.

During the stimulation of hematopoietic stem cell output, the future donor listened to the doctor's advice and did not visit crowded places to avoid contact with potentially sick people. Of the unpleasant symptoms, Ilya was bothered by a slight body ache, which passed after taking an anesthetic. The apheresis procedure itself was quick and easy.

“I faced some misunderstanding among my relatives, because there is little information about bone marrow donation. My parents were worried: we are always small for them. I explained to them that if the donation had harmed someone, I would have already known, as negative information spreads, unfortunately, faster than positive”, – Ilya shares.

We are very grateful to Ilya, who gave hope and a chance for a new life to his recipient.