do-gooder alert

Someone from MetaFilter asked a question about her leukemia being out of remission and asking how hard was it, really, to get a marrow transplant?

This started a spate of people signing up to the National Marrow Donor Program which was, at the time, free (it costs some money generally but they have sponsored free times occasionally). To register to be a donor you have to complete a process online and then you get this cheek swabbing kit in the mail. You run the little swabs on the inside of your cheek, package the whole thing up (nifty sticker) and mail it to them.

They keep your information on file and if you match someone needing a transplant you can donate either stem cells [via a blood donation process] or marrow [via a surgical-ish big needle process] and possibly save someone's life.

I don't know why it took me so long to sign up for this. I'm an organ donor and I donate blood. This seemed like a logical next step.