Comments on: On a serious note: PBSC donation

By: Olivia

Olivia — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:50:56 +0000

This looks absolutely delicious! I love how you’ve explained each step so clearly.

By: T

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:17:34 +0000

I’m know I’m seeing this years after you first posted, but I wanted to thank you for raising awareness! I never knew this existed and as I read this I signed up for the registry! Waiting to get my swab in the mail :)

By: Rita

Rita — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 05:55:44 +0000

Hi Kate,

I’ve been using your recipe site for years—a top go-to—and somehow this evening, I found your post about your donor experience. Thank you for sharing your story. It is a beautiful one.

I lost my brother to leukemia 32 years ago. He did have a bone marrow transplant from my sister. How I’d love to know him now, so many years later.

Cheers, and thank you for this wonderful site and sharing your creative energy.

Rita

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 19:50:11 +0000

In reply to Kristina. I'm so sorry to hear that! I can't imagine. You are so welcome!!

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:55:53 +0000

Thank you for doing this! My brother died of leukemia 8 years ago, but we did get an extra year with him because of a transplant from a donor. My entire family is on the registry and I hope one day I’ll get called to donate.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 03:49:50 +0000

In reply to Marissa. Marissa, thank you so much for signing up! You might save someone's life someday. :)

By: Marissa

Marissa — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 19:13:54 +0000

I just wanted to say thank you for this post! I read another one of your posts originally that gave me the information on your donation. I had never thought to donate before or even really knew about it. I just signed up and have you to thank. So truly, thank you!

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:23:37 +0000

In reply to Kate. P.s. I really do not recall the shots being painful, for what it's worth.

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:23:11 +0000

In reply to Meredith. Meredith, I think it's so awesome that you're willing to donate even with your fear of needles. They can inject Filgrastim anywhere, I think. They asked me where I'd prefer. I actually opted for my stomach, which sounds crazy, but that's because it hurt less there than elsewhere. Please let me know if you have any more questions!

By: Meredith

Meredith — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 05:23:23 +0000

I did my initial labs today after being identified as a match last week. I’ve been told PBSC is my recipient’s preferred method, so I’ve been scouring the internet for information. I have a huge fear of needles – so much so, that I delivered 2 children w/o drugs (not even a heplock), and have fainted watching other people get shots, donate blood, an even just from being in the room supporting a woman (as a doula) who was getting an epidural. So yeah. But I made it through 6 mega huge tubes of blood today w/o passing out, so that’s a victory for me. I just kept reminding myself that someone is facing death, and this is nothing when I know I’ll be able to sleep w/o fear tonight.

My next biggest mental obstacle is the filgrastim injections – where do they inject this stuff? I can’t seem to find that anywhere online.

I really appreciated being able to read your post-donation post as well. It really helps a lot to hear donor accounts of the process in my quest to prepare myself mentally for this.

If it’s easier, feel free to utilize my email to reply to my questions. I appreciate any info/insight/tips you can share about the process leading up to the donation.