After completing hematopoietic stem cell donation, Manager Kim Deok-jung received encouragement from his team members upon returning to work.
[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] "I pray that the patient will live a life without losing courage and without giving up."
Sergeant Lee Jeong-ju (32), who serves as a tank commander in the 20th Armored Brigade Lightning Battalion of the Army, and Master Sergeant Kim Deok-jung (44) of the Air Force 1st Fighter Wing Aircraft Maintenance Squadron recently each donated hematopoietic stem cells to unrelated leukemia patients.
According to the Army on the 6th, Sergeant Lee registered as a hematopoietic stem cell donor after hearing from a nurse that many patients could not receive treatment due to a shortage of donors when he participated in blood donation shortly after entering as a non-commissioned officer in early 2008.
After 12 years, on January 23rd of this year, he was contacted by the Korea Marrow Donor Program that there was a patient with a matching gene. Thinking about "how desperately the patient must be waiting," he gave his final consent to donate without any hesitation.
Sergeant Lee’s wife also encouraged him, saying, "It is a meaningful act that saves lives and something no one else can do."
Hematopoietic stem cells, which play a role like "mother cells that produce blood," are a great hope for patients with leukemia and blood cancers to regain their health. However, the probability of a genetic match between an unrelated donor and a patient is about 1 in 20,000, making it difficult to find suitable donors.
Sergeant Lee has maintained regular exercise and strict dietary management with the conviction that a precious opportunity would come someday. Although unit life was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unit supported him by allowing health checkups and self-quarantine until he could donate. During this donation process, he plans to donate even his transportation expenses to a leukemia patient support group.
Sergeant Lee said, "I pray that the patient will live a life without losing courage and without giving up. I will also recover healthily and return to my comrades to perfectly fulfill my duties as a tank commander."
Master Sergeant Kim of the Air Force donated hematopoietic stem cells to a patient suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer. In May 1998, while serving as a sergeant and donating blood, he happened to learn about hematopoietic stem cell donation and immediately registered as a donor with the Korea Marrow Donor Program.
After 22 years, in May of last year, he was contacted that there was a patient with matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA), and without hesitation, he decided to donate. On the 30th of last month, he was hospitalized at a hospital in Jeollanam-do, received hematopoietic stem cell stimulating injections, and on the 2nd of this month, through a stem cell collection surgery, he gave new life to a blood cancer patient.
Master Sergeant Kim said, "I decided to donate without hesitation with the joy of being able to give hope to patients and families fighting illness. I hope the patient does not lose courage and recovers health quickly to return to daily life."
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