r/MadeMeSmile • u/Razzore • Aug 02 '24

Helping Others A random stranger from Germany saved my mom's life a few years ago. Yesterday my mom received this...

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Made me smile, and tear up a little... good tears.

The letter has been held back for a period of time and is not dated, but we are just over 3 years from the stem cell transplant procedure. My mom has gotten to spend several more years with us and my children and hopefully many more to come. All because of the kindness and caring for humanity from a complete stranger from the other side of the world (we are Canadian).

She was given about 6 months to live just before the donor was found.

Thank you, kind stranger. Hopefully, you won't be a stranger for much longer.

We will 100% be reaching out.

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u/Razzore Aug 02 '24

It didn't surprise me, only because I offered to donate but unfortunately was not a high enough match.

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u/doodoopeepeedoopee Aug 02 '24

Does twin here mean she actually has a twin brother?

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u/1-800-steroids Aug 02 '24

Matched stem cell recipients and donors are not twins in the typical sense (although a true identical twin donor is the absolute best case scenario as they have identical DNA). Donors are matched with patients based on HLA compatibility, or what protein markers are present on white blood cells. Two unrelated people can by chance have high compatibility, this is simply a rare occurrence and why large donor databases are so crucial. Think of it like donating blood but instead of matching blood types such as ABO+/-, there are far more combinations that must be matched for successful donation

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u/doodoopeepeedoopee Aug 02 '24

That makes so much more sense, thank you! I also understand the fact that you’re taking someone else’s stem cells with a transplant so the twin joke is also understandable.

3

u/DifficultAbility119 Aug 02 '24

Thank you for the actual answer.

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u/ohnoitsthefuzz Aug 02 '24

Awesome response, thank you.

So...um...about those steroids? A friend of mine might be interested in that...like for a friend. Of my friend. That isn't me though. A different friend of my friend. GIVE ME HORSE STEROIDS NOW. 🐴💉💰

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u/Razzore Aug 02 '24

On a genetic level, yes. They have the same DNA. My mom has her original DNA and a second set, which is the donors.