There are times when human selflessness and the sincere act of humanity and love shock us. Especially when this act of love comes from a young teenager, who in defiance of everything, takes the initiative to give what he has to save a soul.
The Famagusta.News was informed about the selfless act of humanity by one of our fellow citizens, Spyros Spartiatis from Paralimni, who was only 20 years old and who became a bone marrow donor and saved the life of a fellow human being.
He does not want publicity…
The Famagusta.News contacted Spyros and was asked to describe his entire experience. He initially stated that he would not like his story to be shown because the substance of the act is there and not its publication. Nevertheless, he decided to describe what he experienced in order to encourage and encourage our fellow human beings to become bone marrow donors, while he also described the misfortune of being positive for the coronavirus for fifty whole days.
I did the sampling when I was a soldier…
"In 2018, Spyros recounts, while I was a new recruit at KEN Larnaca, a sampling was carried out to find a bone marrow donor in the camp and without a second thought I gave a sample. I did not know much. I was told that you can help save lives if you come out compatible. They explained to me that sampling through saliva is simple and not painful and I decided to take part. ”
I was informed that I was compatible…
"I was informed that I was a compatible donor by phone in December 2019. At that time I was in Greece for studies. Not expecting. I took part in the sampling a year and a half ago and it left my mind. I was informed about the way the transplant is performed, ie the procedure that would be followed, and they asked me to inform them if I want to proceed. ”
To help a life…
"My first thought was that since I am going to help for a lifetime I will do it. I immediately called my parents and informed them. They were very happy, they told me that I am very lucky to help save a life. "As soon as I hung up the phone with my parents, I called them and informed them that I agreed to the transplant."
Fifty days positive for the coronavirus!
"As soon as I returned to Cyprus for the holiday season, I went to the Famagusta General Hospital and donated blood to confirm that I was the compatible donor. At the end of the holidays I returned to Greece for my exam and I was waiting for a phone call for the process to proceed. However, the arrival of the coronavirus was delayed and until the summer we had no communication.
In September I returned to Greece for my obligations at the University. One day I was called from Karaiskakeio and informed that the transplant was urgent. Without a second thought I returned to Cyprus (the cost of airfare was borne by the Karaiskaki Foundation which I thank very much), but the coronavirus test I did at the airport had a positive result.
So as you can understand there was a new delay in the process, which took a long time since for fifty whole days I was positive for the virus, due to coronavirus residues that remained in my body.
"Karaiskakeio was aware of my state of health, they contacted the patient and informed him that if he wished they would look for another donor, but he said that he would expect me to recover as we had a high compatibility rate."
The transplant…
"When I was negative for the virus and it took some time for me to be admitted to the hospital, I went to the General Hospital to do the necessary tests. After a week I was informed that I was healthy and that I would give bone marrow on January 12.
The procedure I followed was similar to donating blood, that is, passing my blood through a machine that would take the bone marrow and return the blood to my body. To do this, however, I took an injection four days before, morning and night. That is, I injected so that the process could be achieved and my blood could absorb what it needed.
On January 12, I went to the General Hospital of Nicosia where the procedure was performed, observing all the protocols to avoid transmission of the coronavirus, which was not painful at all but, on the contrary, painless. I did not face any problems and I am glad that I helped save the life of a fellow human being.
As he said when asked if he knows who received the transplant, Spyros answered in the negative and that he is only interested in helping one of his fellow human beings. "
The message to the world…
"I did not do anything great, I consider that I did my duty as a human being," describes the twenty-year-old Spyros Spartiatis. I could help and I helped. I am very happy to have found a compatible donor and helped save a life.
I urge all our fellow citizens to take part in the sampling, it is something that if you find compatible you will save lives and it is not painful at all. And it goes without saying that if a compatible donor is found to do so without a second thought. It is God's wish to offer life to a human being. IT'S A BLESSING. ”
Famagusta.News
Interview curator: Christodoulos Metaxas