NH-BMT has partnered with BeTheMatch Registry® to help further expand the National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) unrelated donor registry donor pool. Participation is voluntary. If you have been HLA typed for a family member or friend, you can join the BeTheMatch Registry®. Because HLA tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity. While everyone is encouraged to join, donors of these backgrounds are especially needed:
- Black or African American
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Asian
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Hispanic or Latino
By joining the BeTheMatch Registry®, your typing results will be entered into a database that is used to help locate potential unrelated donors for those patients battling diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and many others. Donors never have to pay to donate and are never paid to donate. For additional information, you can log onto bethematch.org, BeTheMatch Registry® Vital Statistics and Guidelines for Joining the Registry Link.
Beth Wilson Meets Her Unrelated Donor

Alina Theine & Beth Wilson
Beth Wilson, a NSH blood and marrow unrelated donor recipient, husband surprised her for her October 2018 birthday with a March 2019 trip to Cologne, Germany. Unbeknownst to Beth, her unrelated donor, Alina Theine, was waiting at the train station when she arrived in Germany. The German donor registry, DKMS Deutschland, who helped facilitate Alina’s donor collection with the NSH BMT program, was at the train station filming their first meeting. Beth, her husband, and Alina, then traveled to the medical clinic, Cellex, to meet with medical staff who participated in Alina's donation.
Germany's national news broadcasted Beth and Alina's meeting. Since their story aired, over 300 potential donors have signed up to the DKMS donor registry. Beth and Alina also spoke about their story to three classes in two different schools and the importance to donate blood or marrow. One of the schools they visited had a student who matched a patient and has begun the donation process. Please click here to view Beth’s CNN’s donor meeting story.
If you are interested in becoming a donor, please visit, https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/ Please visit Beth’s journey with acute leukemia, blood and marrow transplant, donation and survivorship after transplant on her Facebook page, Beth's Second Battle, and Instagram page, @bethdefying.
NSH-BMT/Leukemia Team Participates in the 2017 Light The Night Fundraising Walk
For the first time in nineteen years, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night walk was held at Piedmont Park. On October 7, 2017, survivors, patients, families and practitioners gathered together to celebrate, honor and remember those touched by cancer. The walk itself is a showing of emotional support for our patients during their cancer journey. The proceeds from this fundraising event also provide our patients with financial and emotional support during their cancer journey.
The BMT/Leukemia team was led by the inpatient team. Over 1.2 million dollars were raised, ranking tenth in the USA for funding raising dollars. We thank all those who participated and supported the 2017 LLS Light The Night walk.
NSH-BMT's Commitment to BeTheMatch Registry®
NSH-BMT Featured on WSB-TV Atlanta- People 2 People: Northside Hospital Sponsors BeTheMatch® Donor Drive
NSH-BMT Featured on WSB-TV Atlanta: Why More African-American Donors Needed for Life Saving Treatment for Blood Disorders
NSH- BMT Featured on Fox 5 - Atlanta: Northside Hospital, BeTheMatch® and Atlanta Blood Services Sponsors Donor Drive in Honor of National Sickle Cell Awareness Day.
NSH- BMT physician Dr. Kent Holland Featured on National HLN Network to Increase Awareness for Need for Bone Marrow Donors.