Mother's Day is a time to reflect on how important our mothers are and to celebrate them. Giving life is a powerful experience and the bond between a mother and child are not to be underestimated. Now try to magine the gift a mother receives when she learns that her critically ill child has a second chance at life. Or how a child feels if their parent needs a chance to live.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is offering free registration during its Thanks Mom campaign, until May 19, 2008.

During the event, costs to join the Registry online or at a bone marrow drive are paid for by generous partners and contributors so that it is FREE:

- For the first 46,000 who join the registry via the NMDP.

-This includes the first 10,000 who join online via the NMDP's website.

In the US, you get the inside of your cheek swabbed. You get a kit at home or you go to a bone marrow drive or donor center. Here is a list by state of upcoming drives.

If you are not a US resident, this is still important information about the bone marrow registry. Many countries have free registry, every day. Even if you do not live in the US, people who register in the US could save the life of a person anywhere in the world, maybe even where you live. In fact, 49% of US matches involve an international recipient or donor.

There are many myths surrounding donation and registration. Many people do not even know there is an unrelated registry and that 70% who need bone marrow transplant rely on someone outside of the family. After registration, learning more and telling others is the most important key to creating a healthy registry and giving people a chance at survival.

Emru celebrated his birthday yesterday. He says that this is his birthdate "for now". If he has the opportunity to receive a transplant, this may be the day he is given life a second time around.

Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, NMDP, US