Volunteer donor shares experience on World Marrow Donor Day

On the occasion of World Marrow Donor Day, celebrated on September 19, 2026, volunteer donor Irene Ioannou shared her personal experience regarding a life-saving marrow donation. Ioannou first registered as a potential donor in October 2017 while she was a university student, following a recruitment campaign conducted by the Karaiskakeio Foundation.

Years later, the foundation contacted Ioannou to inform her that she was a compatible match for a patient in need. After undergoing a series of health screenings and a preparation process involving twice-daily injections administered at home for five days, the transplant procedure took place. The hematopoietic stem cells were collected and transported to Germany on the same day for a two-year-old child. Ioannou expressed no hesitation during the process, stating that she remained focused on the fact that her donation provided the child with a second chance at life.

This story highlights the importance of the Karaiskakeio Foundation's ongoing efforts to expand the donor registry. The account serves as an encouragement for others to consider registration as potential bone marrow donors to assist patients in medical need.