Ustick explained that bone marrow can now be donated in two different ways. The original way she explained is done while a patient is under general anesthesia and doctors extract liquid marrow from the iliac crest or from the genera pelvic area. “The other way is PBSC,” explained Ustick. “That is for 4-5 days before the procedure, the donor is given a drug called filgrosterestiam and it stimulates the body to produce more stem cells. The stem cells can’t stay in the bone so they go into the blood stream. After the 4th or 5th day the donor comes into a donor center and is hooked up to machine (that) takes the blood out of one arm and separates the stem cells and keeps the stem cells and then returns the blood in the opposite arm.” Ustick says that the PBSC way is done 65-75% more often.

“It’s a newer way and the doctors feel in some cases a better way. It may be because it is a less invasive procedure to the donor.” Once a person signs up to be a bone marrow donor they remain on the international registry until they are 61 or until they decline to be on the list. Ustick pointed out that it is extremely important for donors to let BloodSource know when they have moved or change their phone number, so the company always knows how to get a hold of you. It could mean life or death for someone waiting for a donor. Ustick said the community support she saw on Saturday was amazing.

She said often times BloodSource will hold a similar drive at a fair or other public event and they will get “maybe 10 donors.” “To sign up 130 people shows what kind of community Amador is.” Also present on Saturday were members of baby Trevor’s family, for which the event was held in honor of. While Trevor Kott lost his battle to leukemia just days before the event, his family said that he has a legacy as thousands of people have signed up for the Bone Marrow Registry after hearing his story. Ustick who had just met with Trevor’s family before speaking with TSPN said, “The family is dong as good as can be expected. They are honored by the people that were touched by their story.” Ustick added that the people who signed up for the registry “are going to go on and save lives for generations to come.”