“I just couldn’t think of a reason not to”: Charlotte on donating bone marrow
"A 'good' anxious feeling"
Charlotte describes being contacted as a potential match in early 2025 as both a surprise and a thrill. “I’d been on the registry for a couple of years and had almost forgotten about it,’ she says. “But I was eager to get involved and see what was needed from me.”
From there, everything moved smoothly. She had extra blood tests, filled out a comprehensive questionnaire, and completed a full health check, including an ECG and chest X-ray. “I’d never had an ECG before,” she says. “So I was pretty excited to give that a go!”
What struck her most during the preparation was how thorough and kind everyone was. “Even if for some reason I wasn’t able to donate in the end, I knew I’d walk away with a really comprehensive workup of my health. Every person involved along the way was very kind, and put my health first.”
Facing her fears for someone else’s future
When Charlotte learned she’d be donating via bone marrow under general anaesthetic, her excitement was tempered with nerves. “I haven’t had many experiences with general anaesthetic before, and there is a bit of a fear of the unknown,” she says. But she took the time to research what the procedure involved and felt more at ease with each step.
On donation day, nerves gave way to calm. “People love to tell you horror stories about hospitals, and those are the ones you remember,” she says. “But once I checked in, I started to feel comfortable. I had a great team of nurses and doctors who answered all my questions.”
Charlotte’s surgery started early, and by lunchtime she was resting post-op. “The procedure itself seemed very quick,” she says. “I was in and out of hospital within 12 hours.”
Recovery took a little longer than she expected. “I expected I would miraculously bounce back after a day or two, so I was definitely humbled a bit!” she laughs. “I was definitely slow moving for the first couple of days, mostly fatigue which I assume came from being put to sleep. But by day seven, I was back to full speed.”
Her advice to others? “Have a strong support network, and be honest with your employer about your back-to-work strategy. You might need a bit more help than you think in those first couple of days.”
"I had to put my life on pause for a couple of days to give someone potentially 50 more years"
Looking back, Charlotte says the donation experience was empowering, and that any short-term discomfort was far outweighed by what it could mean for someone else. “For me, it was just a few days off,” she says. “But for someone else, it could be a whole second chance at life.”
She didn’t expect how emotional the whole thing would feel, especially once she’d had time to recover and reflect.
“I don’t think I fully understood the weight of what I’d done until after it was all over. I had to put my life on pause, but someone else out there might have a whole new shot at theirs.”
Another surprise? How strongly people around her responded.
“I thought I’d done what any other human would do if given the opportunity,” she says. “But I received so many compliments. It was lovely to have the whole process recognised.”
Her donation sparked something in others, too. “I inspired a few more of my friends to sign up, which makes it all even more worthwhile.”
And as for the people who made it all happen?
“I just couldn’t believe how everyone I met or spoke to along the journey was so lovely and beyond helpful. From the nurses who took my blood to the doctors in the hospital, I was really touched by how kindly I was treated.”