On 28 October, the Luís Garcia Contente Auditorium at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Porto hosted a meeting with solidarity, science and hope, with the valuable presence of the Portuguese Blood and Transplant Institute (IPST), which brought together experts and inspiring testimonies to demystify and underline the vital importance of bone marrow donation.
Led by João Mota (MD), a renowned IPST representative, this informative session became an educational and moving experience, enlightening and helping to break down myths that still surround this act of altruism. It was a rare opportunity to understand all the aspects related to the donation process, from the complex issue of genetic compatibility to the tangible and emotional impact that such a simple gesture can have on the life of a recipient.
In addition to its informative value, the session aimed to empower participants to make a conscious and well-informed decision about whether to join the bone marrow donor register. This gesture of hope has the potential to transform lives, not only for the recipients, but also for the donors, who report the unique satisfaction of being part of a real miracle.
On the other hand, the first-person testimonies were the most impactful moments of the event. Marisa Gomes, a bone marrow donor, and Rui Rocha, an activated donor and inspirational figure in his community, shared their personal experiences, offering an invaluable perspective on what it means to be a donor. On the other side of the process, Romeu Gonçalves, a recipient who experienced the second chance of donation, brought the auditorium living proof that the generosity of donors is literally a matter of life and death.
These stories put a human face on the statistics and reminded us that each and every one of us has the power to save lives. Science and medicine can do their part, but without the generosity of ordinary people, many patients have no chance of a cure.
In conjunction with the information session, the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Porto organised a blood and bone marrow drive, which brought together 53 people to donate blood and/or register to donate bone marrow, 24 of whom registered to donate bone marrow.
