As an oncology nurse at Sanford Health’s Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, North Dakota, Bella Hukriede has cared for more than a few cancer patients. This fall however, she went beyond her day-to-day duties when she donated her own bone marrow to a matching patient.
“We do the drives, so I was aware of it, but I had realized that I never actually did the swab,” Hukriede said. “So I did the swab and got on the registry.”
A perfect match
Just one month after signing up for the National Marrow Donor Program, Hukriede learned she was a match. She did a few more tests to make sure her bone marrow was just right for the patient. Then the program flew her to the University of Kansas for her donation procedure, where bone marrow was harvested from her hip bones.
“It is an outpatient procedure, so I was discharged the same day. I had surgery at seven in the morning and was discharged by 11:30,” Hukriede said. “I’m grateful to even get to do it. It was an awesome experience, and I actually would 100% do it again.”
It’s recommended that bone marrow transplant donors take a week off from work because the procedure can be painful. That short-term discomfort was never a factor in Hukriede’s decision though.
“I work with patients that are feeling at their lowest. So if I can do something to bring hope, of course I’m going to do that,” she said.
Giving all she can
Hukriede was informed that her donation went to a young girl and that the transplant procedure went as planned. Other than that, she doesn’t know who the recipient is or where she lives. One year after the transplant, the girl and her family have the option of reaching out to Hukriede if they choose. That is a day Hukriede hopes will come.
“They have a lot going on and if they don’t want to, I understand that, but I would love to hear from them,” Hukriede said.
After all, who better than an oncology nurse to give everything she can to a patient in need?
“I have been in the room when people get that terrible news and I’ve also been in the room when people get hope. So this is always going to have a special meaning in my heart now.”
For more information on the National Marrow Donor Program, or to sign up to be a donor, visit nmdp.org.
Learn more
- First bone marrow transplant patient healing close to home
- Podcast: Blood and bone marrow transplant care at Sanford
- Fargo leukemia patient using multiple services at RMCC
…
Posted In Cancer, Fargo, Nursing and Nursing Support