Three lifesavers from Albrechts: stem cell donations for new hope!

Three lifesavers from Albrechts: stem cell donations for new hope!

in the small community of Waldenstein, Gmünd district, in Lower Austria, three people from Albrechts saved the lives of others through their altruistic decisions. Sarah Geyer, Benjamin Thor and Florian Kocaget are their names, and their stories are an impressive example of how stem cell donations can bring hope for many sick people. According to [5min.at] (https://www.5min.at/52025011020/kleinerer-ort-im-waldviertel-ist-iht- von-drei-lebensrettern/), Sarah Geyer already donated stem cells to her leukemia in 2009. Her brave step not only saved her sister's life, but also shows the personal dimension of such donations.

Benjamin Thor and Florian Kocaget, on the other hand, donated their stem cells to anonymous recipients. Thor donated his cells to a man in Germany in 2022, while Kocage handed his donation to a recipient in North America in early 2025. These anonymous donations are not uncommon and make a significant contribution to ensuring the survival of patients.

The importance of stem cell donations

The association "Give for Life" emphasizes the central role of the stem cell donations. Statistics show that over 300 types are necessary to guarantee a single successful donation. The process begins with a typing that is simply made by a cheek smear to determine six HLA characteristics. This enables the collection of potential donors in a global database. This database is crucial, because statistically speaking, every 323. GiveFuerleben.at reports that stem cell donations are often the last remedy if other therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation do not help.

Typing is possible for healthy people between the ages of 17 and 45, with pregnant women even participating under certain conditions. Registration for typing can be done comfortably from home. The donors can stay in the database until their 61st birthday, which creates more options for life -saving donations.

How is a stem cell donation?

The stem cell donation can be done in two ways: The most common method is the peripheral stem cell donation, in which the cells are removed from the bloodstream after a five-day treatment. This method is used in about 80 % of cases. Only 20 % of the donations are carried out by a bone marrow donation, which is carried out under general anesthesia. This intervention usually takes place on the pelvic crest and has a low risk for the donor. Gesundheits.de emphasizes that after the bone marrow donation, the bone marrow is completely regenerated within two weeks, so that the donor does not lack stem cells.

The entire process, from typing to effective donation, can take months. During this time, the donors are part of an important chain that can ultimately save lives. In the event of a donation, the biological material is usually brought to the recipient on the same day and transplanted there. This logistical challenge is supported by the use of specialized removal centers that are near the donor.