A simple test can save a life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Many servicemembers know that donating blood can help others, but there is another way to make an even greater difference in someone's life -- donating bone marrow.

A staff sergeant from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron here did just that, recently returning to full duty only two weeks after the procedure.

"I signed up at a registry drive when I was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona," said Staff Sgt. Roy Eilenstine. "They took a sample for the national registry and called me back after five years when they thought I was a match for someone."

The C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft crew chief was called back in April to provide more samples to narrow down the possibility he was the best possible match for a patient with leukemia, lymphoma or other blood diseases.

"The process of narrowing down a donor match can take from seven to 12 additional samples, and I provided several more samples through the beginning of May," Sergeant Eilenstine said.

After the sergeant learned he was the best possible match, he went on permissive temporary duty to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., for the donation procedure.

"Altogether, the procedure only lasted five hours, from the time they started the general anesthesia to moving me to recovery," the sergeant said. "It was nice that my wife was able to take leave from her job to be with me before and after the procedure."

Although doctors warned Sergeant Eilenstine of possible pain after the procedure, he said he felt only a bit sore during the two-week recovery period.

"I was put on a profile for the initial recovery period that restricted me from lifting anything more than50 pounds, but since May 15, I've been back to work like normal," Sergeant Eilenstine said. "Since I'm responsible for a variety of maintenance on the aircraft transiting through Yokota, I couldn't wait to be off the profile and back to working on the flightline."

The sergeant's donation has earned respect from co-workers and supervisors who made sure he could get to Georgetown University for the procedure.

"I recognized the opportunity Sergeant Eilenstine had to save another person's life after working with a great individual at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota," said Tech. Sgt. Gerald Best, Sergeant Eilenstine's supervisor.

"This Airman's sister was diagnosed with acute leukemia, and I saw the issues that came up trying to find a donor match for her," Sergeant Best said. "It's not common for a match to be found, especially from a sibling, but he was able to donate marrow to his sister. So I think it's great that Sergeant Eilenstine was able to provide a chance to someone he may never meet."

As part of the donation process, the bone marrow donor or patient can initiate a request to contact the other member one year after the transplant is complete.

"I haven't made a decision to contact the recipient or not," Sergeant Eilenstine said. "I think both of us are glad the program worked to match us. I'll probably decide closer to the one year point."

Sergeant Eilenstine's decision to donate came only six months after losing his grandmother to cancer.

"I hope that others decide to donate because this is a worthy cause," he said. "If asked to donate again, I would in a heartbeat."

For more information, visit the National Bone Marrow Program Web site.