Bone Marrow Donation: Giving Hope, Saving Lives

I've known Gabe Kiefel (now referred to as "Mr. Kiefel," by my two youngest sons, which continues to throw me for a loop) since he was in elementary school. He graduated from WHS, along with my oldest son, as a member of the Class of 2005. These days, he is a busy husband, dad, Waitsburg middle school teacher and coach.

When my youngest son returned home from football practice one night, saying that coach Kiefel, wasn't at practice because he was donating bone marrow, I was surprised, but thought that sounded about right. I also know Gabe well enough to know that he wouldn't want a big deal made of it.

Sure enough, when I approached him about sharing his experience, offering to keep my story short and sweet, his only concern was that the article not center on him, personally, but on the process.

"I would be willing to share my experience if only to perhaps inspire others to consider joining the bone marrow registry," he said.

Until last week, Gabe was scheduled to donate marrow on Sept. 3, but that date has now been postponed until the 18th.

"Unfortunately, the patient, who is a 14-year-old boy with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), didn't meet one or more criteria for starting the pre-transplant procedure," Gabe said.

Gabe said that Be The Match, the company that oversees the registry and donations can't share more than basic information about the recipients and they are only given basic information as well.

Gabe, who once planned to become a physical therapist, said the whole process began when he worked as a Rehab Tech at St. Mary's Medical Center, nine years ago.

"They asked if employees wanted to be on the bone marrow registry, and I said 'yes.' Then I forgot about it until about a month ago when they called to let me know I was a match for someone," Gabe said.

Gabe was identified as a donor after taking a second blood test to confirm the match and answering detailed (and sometimes extremely uncomfortable) questions about his past experiences and sexual history.

"At one point I started laughing and asked the lady how she could ask such questions. She said it was only awkward when people responded with a 'yes,'" Gabe said.

The next step was a pre-donation physical, in which the donor is checked out to make sure they can go through the surgical procedure. Then, they draw blood, to be given back to the donor following the marrow donation. The donation typically takes place a week or two later, if everything goes accordingly.

Gabe said the donor is put under general anesthetic and a large-bore hollow needle is inserted into the back and pelvic crest. Bone marrow is drawn from five or six different spots on each hip. In his case, they plan to draw two liters of marrow. Once the donation is complete a courier takes the marrow directly to the transplant recipient.

Gabe is honest in sharing that the process has been a bumpy ride. "I've had multiple appointments set and canceled in different areas of the country. At first, I was set to go through a facility in Portland. Then they canceled that and the next day I flew to Palo Alto, Calif., and had a physical at Stanford Hospital Cancer Center.

"I was supposed to go back on Sept. 2 for a pre-op appointment, with the procedure taking place on the 3rd and they would cryofreeze my marrow until the patient was ready. However, the donation may end up being cancelled altogether due to the patient's condition," Gabe said.

For a coach and teacher, trying to prepare for a new school year, the timing has been anything but convenient.

Gabe said the process has been emotionally challenging as well. "The decision to donate is a serious one. I want to be the type of person that gives unconditionally. This is definitely a test of that. The process is painful, time-consuming, inconvenient, and there are serious risks involved.

"However, this is one thing I can do for another human being that could change their life forever. Although stressful, the process is intrinsically gratifying," he said.

Gabe hadn't planned on sharing what he was doing beyond his family and employers, but he said those who know have been so excited they couldn't help but tell others.

"This is a feel-good story. If anything, I hope others consider signing up to donate. Multiple people have already asked me how to do so," Gabe said.

"I hope everything does work out for my recipient. It's very strange, but I feel connected to this young man, although I have never met him. I pray he is able to receive the bone marrow and makes a recovery," said Gabe.

Those who are interested in donating bone marrow, or otherwise supporting the cause, can learn more at http://www.bethematch.org.