Martina, the daughter of Sally and John Mellang, was born and raised in Cook County, specifically in Lutsen. At the age of two, she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid monocytic leukemia (CMML) and had to travel to the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis to be treated. 

According to Martina, the day she and her family left Lutsen for treatment that September, she "wished for it to snow." As the family was pulling out of the driveway, she got her wish. Her entire family, including her brothers Zach (age six) and Micah (age one), spent the following year in Minneapolis, where Martina says they were "sustained by the tremendous support and prayers from their community and extended family." 

During her care, Martina needed a bone marrow transplant. With no family members matching, a search led to a non-relative donor in California. The family was fortunate to receive the donor's contact information (an optional component of donating) and has cherished being able to reach out and express their immense gratitude, and "keep in close relation to her." 

On her fourth birthday, Martina was finally released from the hospital. It was a day marked by celebration and heartfelt goodbyes to the compassionate care team, she shared. 

Today, Martina and her husband, Ryan, reside in Saginaw with their dog Cricket, where they have built their dream home. They enjoy time spent fishing, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Reflecting on her experience, Martina shared that she "hopes her story will encourage others to be a donor," adding that she is "beyond grateful for her donor and for her ongoing health."

Facts About Becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor

Martina’s experience, like Robert Hackett's, highlights the NMDP (formerly Be The Match) statistic that "Approximately 70% of patients who need a transplant must find a compatible, non-family donor," which heavily relies on the donor registry. 

The process of matching is based on your human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which are proteins found on most cells in your body. Because matching has a genetic component, NMDP states that patients are "most likely to match with someone who shares their ethnic background." Additionally, a patient’s blood type will change to the donor’s after a successful transplant.

90% of donors donate via PBSC (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell) during a process called apheresis, which is similar to donating plasma or platelets. About 10% of donors are asked to donate marrow, which occurs under general anesthesia. Side effects can vary from donor to donor, according to the NMDP. "For most, the side effects last a few days to a couple of weeks. Most donors are back to their usual routine within a few days," they said. The body replaces the donated marrow within four to six weeks.

Potential donors will not incur any costs for donation, according to NMDP. "Donors never pay to donate and are never paid to donate. We cover all donation-related expenses, including medical appointments, travel for you and a companion, and the donation itself. We also cover missed pay from work, pet care, and childcare." If called to donate, you will travel to one of NMDP's collection centers across the U.S.

**Please note: At this time, only potential donors aged 18-35 can be added to the blood stem cell donor registry. According to NMDP, donors aged 18 to 35 are medically preferred and requested nearly 80% of the time by medical professionals because scientific studies show that cells from younger donors lead to better long-term survival rates for patients. Read more here. 

How to Give Life to the Max on November 18th

Boreal Community Media has partnered with Memorial Blood Centers and NMDP to offer the community three ways to give back this November:

1. Give Life: Blood Donation

We've partnered with Memorial Blood Centers to host a blood drive. Donated blood is used for trauma patients, cancer treatment, major surgeries, during pregnancies, and for individuals with chronic blood disorders. Read more about Ashley's story, where she received a life-saving emergency blood transfusion here.

• When & Where: Tuesday, November 18, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the Memorial Blood Center bus at The Hub parking lot.

Every donor will receive a free Boreal Community Media mug as a thank-you!

2. Give Life: Blood Stem Cell Donor Registry

Joining the NMDP registry is the first step toward saving a life like Martina's, and involves a simple cheek swab (conducted by you). Boreal Community Media will handle sending the kit in. 

• When & Where: Tuesday, November 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., inside The Hub

3. Give Your Support to Boreal Community Media

The "Give Life to the Max" event is organized by Boreal Community Media (BCM), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing daily news, community stories, and free resources such as the event calendar, classified ads, and free tech support in the summer. 

Your financial gift in honor of Give to the Max Day directly funds initiatives like these and operational needs.

Learn more or give here.