Volunteering is the epitome of compassion and selflessness, which Samuel Yen exemplifies as one of Singapore’s youngest bone marrow donors under the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP).
Now 20 years old, Yen became involved with the BMDP after coming across an advertisement about the programme that manages the nation’s only registry of volunteer bone marrow donors. To participate, contributors must donate blood-forming stem cells required for bone marrow transplants.
A registration drive organised by BMDP in 2022 made Yen enrol as a donor. “I was 18 at the time and wasn’t sure if I should join. Seeing my friends do so, I decided to follow them,” he says. Soon after registering, he sought further education and watched YouTube videos of donors who were positively impacting patients’ lives.
Although Yen’s mother fully supported his decision, she was understandably concerned when they learned he might be a match. While many people sign up as donors, finding an actual match is extremely rare. After speaking with BMDP staff, however, she felt confident that his late father, a strong believer in volunteerism, would have encouraged his son to proceed.
With his mother’s support, Yen moved forward with the donation and opted for the Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) method, a non-invasive procedure to collect blood-forming cells.
Unlike traditional bone marrow donation, where doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone, PBSC uses a process called apheresis. A donor’s blood is drawn, filtered to extract stem cells, and the remaining blood is returned to him or her. This method is less invasive and generally requires a shorter recovery time.
However, during the procedure, Yen ran into a challenge: the backflow of blood through his veins was too weak for the apheresis machine. In the end, doctors drew blood from a collarbone vein through a central line.
“At that moment, I doubted my decision, but soon realised I did not make the wrong choice. In spite of my discomfort, I was able to potentially save someone’s life and emerge stronger from the experience.”
Samuel Yen on putting his sacrifice into perspective
These days, he shares his story as a donor with students at Republic Polytechnic and on BMDP’s Instagram page. His public speaking has given him the courage to overcome his stutter on stage, and he enjoys answering students’ questions.
The increase in charity scams has also prompted Yen to offer some advice to prospective donors: “Do your due diligence by checking the official website and social media platforms of the organisation. You can also take the extra step of contacting the organisation directly to clarify any doubts.”
Finally, Yen encourages potential donors not to overthink the decision. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase,” he says. “Just take the first step.”
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Hizuan Zailani
Hair: Michael Chiew
Makeup: Pris and Dorcas, AASTRAL Beauty
