‘The Match’ of a Lifetime

 

Torben Christensen Family

My SCT donor story is told by Chapter 14 in the book.

über alles*

CHAPTER 14

District Hospital Hameln an der Weser

District Hospital Hameln an der Weser, Dept. of Hematology/Oncology, Saint-Maur-Platz 1, 31785 Hameln, Germany

Information about the stem cell donation from Germany, as my SCT Torben Christensen shared:

• 08/06/2007: Outpatient preliminary examination
• 08/16/2007 – 08/19/2007: G-CSF injections to mobilize stem cells into peripheral blood. I administered the G-CSF injections myself at home.
• 08/20/2007: Donation of stem cells – apheresis: 6-hour outpatient session where blood was filtered to collect stem cells, and the rest returned
• 08/21/2007: Rest, meals, and discharge 
• Donation location: District Hospital Hameln an der Weser, Dept. of Hematology/Oncology, Saint-Maur-Platz 1, 31785 Hameln, Germany

Says, Torben: “At the time of the stem cell donation, I had just started my studies in Göttingen. After graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Business, specializing in finance, accounting, and taxation, I worked for nearly two years for an auditing firm in Göttingen.

“At the end of 2011, I moved back with my family to my hometown in northern Germany, where I still live with my wife and our three sons. “Since then, I have been working as CFO at a landscaping and garden construction company.”

The Just in Time elements of this story cannot be told without some über alles (considering what is most important). Much credit is due to my stem cell donor, Torben. What I cannot tell here, may appear in the addendum of the book which will lead to amplified content that was not available when the book was published.

Still, I must provide some reflections in appreciation for the selfless act of Torben on my behalf and my family,

As I can best relate, Torben C. joined the German Civil Service (Beamter) in Göttingen in the first years of the 21st century, working for what many would call the German IRS. He benefited from a public‐sector lifestyle: stable employment, a city apartment within biking distance to university clinics, and weekends exploring cultural offerings.

By 2025, Torben has climbed the ranks into mid‐management, overseeing digitalization and citizens’ services—a sector Göttingen has heavily invested in since 2020. As you can see, his career has moved beyond civil service on to private landscaping and garden construction.

Discovery of the ZKRD & EBMT Registry

Early in 2007, through a municipal health campaign, Torben learned about ZKRD (Zentrales Knochenmarkspender‐Register Deutschland), Germany's national bone‑marrow donor registry zkrd.de. It partners internationally with Europe's EBMT (European BMT Registry) ebmt.org+1AstCT Journal+1.

He joined, as he told me in a Facebook exchange, motivated by a desire to help patients in need. After a cheek swab and typing, his profile was entered into the national and European registries, making him available to match patients worldwide.

“When I think back to the stem cell donation 18 years ago, I’m still grateful and happy that I was able to do so much good with just a few hours spent at doctors and hospitals. I would do it again anytime, and experienced no health issues,” says Torben.

Stem‑Cell Donation: Process & Experience

The Match & Invitation (Around 2007)

In 2007, SCT donor Torben received a call from the registry: he matched a patient with blastoid-type mantel cell lymphoma in California, USA, and was invited for further testing. He booked time off, underwent more assessments, and was approved as the "best matched unrelated donor.”

I well remember that Dr. Nakamura commented, “We have over 100 possible donors for you, Mike, but Torben is the best match, so we just need to reduce the MCL presence to the lowest level possible and arrange for the right timing of the donation.”

Stem‑cell donation paths include:

• Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest (via growth factor injections and aphaeresis)
• Traditional bone‐marrow harvest under anesthesia
• After weighing options, Torben chose PBSC due to shorter recovery and lower risk—under medical guidance.

Following donation, his stem cells were packed, flown to LA and COH  from Germany and used for my transplant.

Personal Impact & Civic Reflection

Torben reflects that making this contribution gave his work-life deeper meaning. A world apart, we have stayed in touch with registry newsletters, learning of survival stories sustained by powerful donor‑recipient bonds. In 2000, he and his family had hoped to visit California to meet with us for the first time, but the worldwide Covid pandemic interrupted such plans.

This trip (the donor coming here or we traveling to Germany) is delayed to some future date. God willing, we will meet either in Germany or here in California. We pray that this will happen, but it remains a matter, Just in Time.

From 2007 to 2025: Medical & Registry Evolution

Technological & Procedural Advances

• Then (2007‑2010): PBSC donations were standard; transplant matching relied heavily on HLA sequencing. Registries were smaller, somewhat slower.

• Today: DNA-based high-resolution matching, expanded ethnic‑diverse donor pools, cord‑blood banks, and immunomodulatory protocols have