Football Hosts Be The Match on Monday, April 15

This year, Temple football will be hosting its annual bone marrow drive on Monday, April 15, 2019. The program will now be in its 12th year with Be The Match, a non-profit organization that orchestrates connections between donors and potential recipients. They are also responsible for the overall transplant process. For those unaware, Temple football is not new to the donation process. Drawing inspiration from the late Michel'Le Daughtry, a former Temple football equipment manager, and her battle with leukemia, the drive has become a staple for the team every spring. The drive itself will involve various players asking for donations outside the Howard Gittis Student Center.

Every year, more than 15,000 people are affected by non-functioning bone marrow as a result of diseases like leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and lymphoma. These diseases can be life-threatening if not handled abruptly. However, bone marrow transplants have become a well-regarded solution in the medical industry. While not a perfect process, the transplant has helped thousands around the world.

While the process may seem daunting to those who have never donated, it is actually easier than ever to donate and can even be done at home. The registration and actual donation can be handled in person if preferred, but there is also a kit that can be sent to your home. From there, all it takes is the swab of a cheek, mailing it out, and waiting. Following this, the waiting process can last anytime from a few weeks to several years because unfortunately, discovering matches does not happen overnight. For the very few who are a match, they are faced with a life-changing moment: donate bone marrow or walk away. Current Temple sophomore and Temple Football intern, Aaron Mannicci, faced this exact decision. He decided to follow through and donate his bone marrow.

Getting the call that someone is a match can be a scary feeling. Mannicci described his initial thoughts as "surprising." He said "I had forgotten that I even entered the registry two years before, but at the same time, all of a sudden you have an opportunity in front of you to change someone's life. I guess you could say I was a bit nervous, but more anxious than nervous. It was just a really cool feeling."

Not very often does one get the opportunity to save another person's life. Mannicci was a healthy student who made the ultimate decision to make an impact that would not soon be forgotten. "I've never met the person and I've never communicated with them. It's a really cool feeling because I feel like at some point down the road, I'll realize the significance of it more. It's hard to describe."

When touching on the simplicity of the donation process, Mannicci noted it as "seamless" and "not hard on the donor at all." He added that "they [doctors] took care of you at the hospital and were very accommodating." The swabbing itself only takes a matter of minutes and Mannicci is a perfect example of the straightforward method of donation. As far as matching goes, there is time to ponder over the next move. "Up until the procedure, they [doctors] let it be known that I had every opportunity to opt out all the way up until I got to the hospital and started the procedure," Mannicci went on to say. "It's not a binding situation. You can change your mind at any time."

Even though there was some slight soreness post-surgery, Mannicci believes it was minor in comparison to other things. "There was definitely some soreness for a few days, but it was nothing major," he said. "I was still living normally, just a little tired. It was the equivalent of pulling a muscle in my back and hurting for a few days and then it slowly goes away. Within two weeks, I almost forgot that I had even gone through the procedure. I was back playing basketball and going to class within two days."

The question for Mannicci was never if he should follow through with the donation process, but rather a "why shouldn't I" situation. "Why would you not try to save someone's life and save them from suffering from cancer at the expense of just two or three days of soreness? There's not even a comparison between the two." Like Mannicci, many potential donors may have the chance to make the greatest impact on another human: saving his/her life. All it takes is a couple of minutes. People of all ages, ethnicities, and genders are encouraged to come forth and sign up. There is also no cost to pay if one were to be found a match. At the end of the day, Temple football and Be The Match want to save lives. Those who join the mission know they are also making a difference. Take it from someone who has undergone the process: "It just takes 20 minutes and you can save someone's life."

Temple University Athletics

Football Hosts Be The Match on Monday, April 15

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