Hank Steals John's Cells

Swab those cheeks and maybe save a human life: dkms.org
In which John, as it turns out, does not need to stick anything up his nose. That's a covid test. This is a video about the importance (and ease!) of signing up for the bone marrow donor registry. Never underestimate nerdfighteria; I'm sure we can expand the registry together!
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[@saadatkamal8110]

Typical younger-brother behaviour - stealing your older brother's vital possessions

[@tomrogue13]

Tbf, John stole hanks money to buy cigarettes when he was younger

[@Diamondelight92]

And selling them on ebay!

[@sergioventura2595]

@@tomrogue13 it was not cigarettes it was baseball cards which later on Hank sold on eBay

[@avakining]

@@tomrogue13John repaid Hank at Hank’s wedding though!

[@Anna-B]

@@sergioventura2595it could have been both, John had an interesting adolescence

[@jennis8561]

"He has been here the whole time" the vlogbrothers-Dropout assimilation is the best thing that ever happened. Loving it from all sides.

[@Kurogamo_]

"It's a Game Changer" 3:50

[@Kram1032]

@@Kurogamo_ eh, that one felt far less intentional

[@docnevyn5814]

The Fix is in.

[@jacobmerrill693]

Need John on Game Changers stat

[@wolfsbane4516]

​@@jacobmerrill693 John might panic on Game Changer. I think he'd be great doing D20, though

[@wei.cecilia]

I love hanks excited description of bone marrow contrasting with johns deadpan motionless staring

[@Pickelhaube808]

😐 🤓

[@sampalca]

I'm so here for the genuine excitement. "It's a PIRATE SHIP!"

[@cypriennezed5640]

GASP

[@osmia]

!

[@amandasunshine2]

I mean.. it is unexpected!

[@vvivacious101]

Makes you glad they had to refilm it😂

[@thefilthycasual6358]

It's probably the Star of India. Most of the time it stays docked and it's part of the maritime museum in San Diego, but every now and then they do take it out sailing. Fun fact: Master and Commander was filmed using that ship (assuming I'm right about what ship that is).

[@EAlexandra3]

I literally have a swab kit that's been sitting around due to my procrastination. It's getting done and going in the mail today!

[@123bbryant]

You too!? Sending mine out today as well! Thanks for the kick in the ass❤

[@rebeccacuthbertson1271]

Thank you for addressing the change in technology for how the transplant/donation works because I knew how important becoming a donor was but actually terrified of the hip drilling surgery. So thank you for saying that's not how it works anymore!

[@runningcow]

+

[@thecaseyharvey]

As a leukemia patient waiting for a donor, thank you for sharing this message!

[@leela9003]

I hope that it goes ok for you, sending love

[@catherinesvideos156]

Sending love and care as you wait.

[@zachfranklin6821]

Thank goodness Hank sold John's baseball cards on ebay instead of his bone marrow.

[@elaineshiffer6929]

Well that was to make up for John stealing Hank's trophy money

[@jessice293]

Living the deep vlogbrothers lore, I’d totally forgotten about both of these 😂

[@watcher821]

I registered with the German DKMS a bit over a decade ago and had a letter in the mail about being a potential match for a patient a year after that. Some blood tests, then self-injecting the stem cell growth factor, half a week of flu symptoms (mainly cramping and pain in my lower back), quite a few more blood tests and then 4h of washing the needed cells out of my blood to get them to the patient. Very small price to pay to potentially save a life!

[@catherinesvideos156]

Thank you for being a donor from a transplant survivor

[@iammyrealbrain]

Speaking as someone who went through chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (I'll be able to say "had" in December of next year) it's super important to get people on the registry. I was lucky twofold, I didn't need a transplant because my body reacted to chemo well enough that I could recover on my own, and it turns out one of my older sisters was a bonemarrow match with me. I cannot tell you the mental relief it is to know there's a solid plan B for your treatment when you're staring down the barrel of Cancer. I've been recommending people get on the registry for years, it's awesome to see you two do the same! Keep up the wonderful work!

[@morgaknightgames]

The clarification that the donation process no longer requires a painful drilling procedure is a veeeery important one! Science is amazing.

[@zimke2]

I matched and donated to someone through the registry in 2017 and I want to second what John and Hank said - the process is very easy! You have nothing to be afraid of, and the registry does a fantastic job of supporting you as a donor to answer any questions and schedule everything, they even sent me a care package with a warm fuzzy blanket.

[@MinnehahaSybyl]

My dad had Hodgkins and then Leukemia and died of graft versus host. Good matches are important, people.

[@starlinguk]

My cousin survived graft vs host but died from a "mysterious" type of pneumonia in February 2020 while still in the hospital.

[@emilypowers7911]

I love this!!!!!!! My little 3 month old needed a bone marrow transplant. She had a donor from Germany and we are in the USA. I love so much the people who are on the registry!!

[@k8eekatt]

I'm so glad she got a second chance!❤

[@catherinesvideos156]

Hope she's doing well!! I had my transplant at 10 and it was tough, I'm sure 3mo is even harder! I know lots of folks with donors from the German registry.

[@rosianna]

Who needs animation when there are John's live action demonstrations and sound effects?

[@AyresAY]

I actually donated my stemcells to a stranger at the beginning of this year. Really weird not to know what effect it had on the person, because its all anonymous. But glad to have possibly made a difference! (the organisation is called Matchis in the Netherlands, please sign up there dutchies!)

[@Lisa-pn4kt]

Did they also do it the way they vividly described in the video? The process kind of scares me

[@AyresAY]

@@Lisa-pn4kt There is an option for surgery and an option for bloodtransfer. I did the blood transfer. You inject yourself a few days beforehand with stuff that makes your red bloodcell count go up. It can give some people some side effects, others don't notice anything. The blood transfusion takes a few hours. Also; you can change your mind at every moment. So signing up doesn't make you do anything. It just makes you able to consider it in the unlikely chance you are a match for somebody. Hope this information helps!

[@Izzy-Maurer]

UK folks, get on the Anthony Nolan registry! I was signed up by students volunteering at my freshers fair last year, and it was so easy to get the packages and send it back.

[@ToppyTree]

I did the same! DKMS also operates in the UK and you can get registered at NHS blood donation centres. (You only need to do one of these not all 3)

[@BnFGProductions]

I’ve been on for 10 years and it’s thefirst address I update when I move

[@bobbillybob5811]

A close friend of mine got swabbed and ended up anonymously donating bone marrow through the old surgical method due to specific needs of the recipient, who was a 3 year old. He is my hero.

[@ostremnomer]

I've actually done the donor procedure they described, and it really was a surprisingly manageable and personally rewarding experience. If you are healthy and able, I encourage you to get on these registries (DKMS and NMDP are the two large ones I'm aware of) because it can save or extend someone's quality of life. The nurses involved are spectacular and so supportive. Please help if you can! The programs ensure that donors receive support through the process and that all expenses are reimbursed.

[@tass466]

Today I learned that BeTheMatch has been renamed to National Bone Marrow Registry (and I'm on that registry!) Thanks!

[@ostremnomer]

Thanks for being on the registry! They are the ones that handled my donation process and were really supportive and awesome. They changed the name a year or two back to clear up the branding.

[@DarkkestNite]

important note that DKMS and NMDP are getting you onto one masterlist - so if you're registered through one, don't register again! DKMS' FAQs explicitly advise not to register with them if you're already on NMDP

[@ostremnomer]

@@DarkkestNite great point! Thanks for adding that!

[@catherinesvideos156]

Thank you for being a donor from a transplant survivor

[@MegaCombobreaker]

I love the message, going to get a kit. That said, I was trying to figure out why Hank's shirt said dickmas.

[@hugogieles4816]

I did this like 6 years ago and they never needed me but they do send me a happy birthday message every year which is nice

[@itchy7879]

The idea of my bones potentially leaking bone marrow is a new level of body horror I was not ready to experience on a Tuesday morning. Thanks, I hate it. Hope you don't end up needing more intense treatment, Hank

[@SSGranor]

This hits me pretty hard right now. I'm a long-time (if quiet) nerdfighter (I'm literally wearing my p4a 2022 t-shirt right now); and, I'm also currently undergoing treatment for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. If all goes well, I will eventually be needing exactly the kind of bone marrow transplant discussed in this video. I'm told that, based on my demographics, between family members and the current extent of the registry, I probably have about an 85% chance of finding a good match. But, I worry both about that other 15% and about people whose chances are lower. So, thank you both for pushing to make the registry broader. And, for anyone interested in other ways to help, folks with blood cancers can often need quite a few transfusions; so, donating blood (if you're able) is always appreciated.

[@catherinesvideos156]

Sending love and care in your treatment odyssey. Hope there's a wonderful donor for you when the time comes.

[@lokiiago_x0x]

/sending love and strength/ you got this! 💜

[@JasonGuySmiley]

Wow, I had no clue they had made bone marrow extraction so easy, gonna get on that list this week

[@owenbusler]

I did my bone marrow donation through DKMS in 2019. It was an awesome experience and if you are a match I cant recommend it enough!

[@catherinesvideos156]

Thank you for being a donor from a transplant survivor

[@toswingonastar]

I joined the bone marrow registry a few years ago and it was, in fact, very quick and easy!

[@ash60248]

Just emailed them about criteria. Thank you for the update on how they harvest bone marrow that does sound much better than what they used to do! Thank you for being advocates of important causes and an inspiration.

[@TG-nd9rj]

Hank, I really just want to say thank you for being so upfront about your diagnosis, treatment, and (currently) recovery. The way you approach talking about the subject has really helped me learn a lot about cancers over the last year and it's been a tremendous support. Cancer runs heavily on both sides of my family, and this past spring I found out that I carry a genetic mutation that severely increases my risk of developing cancer(s) in my life. On the upside, most members of my family have not developed cancer(s) until they've been at least 60, and I'm currently 25, so I've got time to make changes. My father was diagnosed with a metastisized squamous cell carcinoma a few weeks ago, and while it is scary, the doctor is optimistic. It appears to have started in/around his tonsils and spread to his lymph nodes, but has not spread anywhere else as of yet. I'm driving back home in a couple days to help take care of my parents house while he's having surgery. Then he has 6 weeks of recovery, followed by 6 weeks of radiation before they decide if chemo is necessary. My grandmother is also receiving treatment right now to increase her white blood cell count in order to (hopefully) prevent the development of leukemia. Cancer is a scary topic that so many still consider taboo or don't want to breach with their family because it brings up all sorts of feelings of fear and anxiety and uncomfortable-ness. I'm sure you experienced those feelings so much more intensely while going through your diagnosis. But because of people like you, people who are willing to share their stories and show that it doesn't have to be as intimidating as it feels... Really brings me comfort. So thank you, and I wish you the best of luck on your continued remission and recovery.

[@gussnarp]

This really brings back the feel of old school vlogbrothers reunion videos, plus just John and Hank doing a thing that is an unalloyed good and encouraging Nerdfighteria to join them.

[@osmia]

+

[@hucklebucklin]

It really does the only difference is Hank with curly hair!!!

[@AndreaCrisp]

++

[@vvivacious101]

So, after watching this video I read the comments as you tend to do and it became clear that people around the world have taken part in this initiative which is what made me click on the link. As someone who doesn't live in North America I often don't because things usually don't work out for me but lo and behold this organisation had a chapter in my own country. So for anyone who didn't click the link assuming it wouldn't work for them you might be wrong. This organisation seems to be dedicated to building a global registry. And, I just registered!

[@nandini1740]

Not to diminish how great it is of Hank to talk about his experience with this so openly for the greater good... But John, as a fellow older sibling, sitting there and hearing your little brother recount experiences with the disease and describe something that sounds so... grueling... Congratulations on keeping those peepers dry, good sir.

[@rijgddurfncg]

I had no idea the bone marrow donation process had become so much less intrusive for the donor. Thank you so much for mentioning this!

[@ashtuatara]

"Hes been here the whole time" "It's a game changer" ... I'm suspicious...

[@scuttlefield]

I was just looking for others who caught that. I've been binging Game Changer as of late.

[@sharks2571]

The brothers green on game changer would be a dream come true

[@Codex_of_Wisdom]

I'd never heard about this, and just signed up. When I was 6 months old, when my liver stopped making my blood for my bones to take over, my bones... didn't. Needless to say, I almost died. So I hope someday I can do for someone else what someone did for me back then.

[@SplatPrime]

I was not expecting a full on pirate ship to be outside

[@tomrogue13]

I did this in college when a 10yo girl had lukiemia and a frat did a big drive to help find her a match. I actually ended up matching with someone else like a year later and saved his life.

[@catherinesvideos156]

Thank you for being a donor from a transplant survivor

[@_maxgray]

Thank you to everyone who registers! Especially anyone from a racial/ethnic minority - a diverse donor pool is super important so that more people can have a good match, and right now the pool of potential donors does not match our overall demographics.

[@RebeccaShores]

Much easier cause it's a check swab! My husband and I both registered a few years ago. I am needle phobic, but I'd be brave to help someone.

[@catherinesvideos156]

As a long-time nerdfighter AND bone marrow transplant survivor, THANK YOU!! Thanks to John and anyone and everyone who signs up to be a donor!

[@cuitonwap]

the way hank didnt believe john at first when john said there's a pirate ship 😂😂😂

[@bethsmith3421]

Thanks for explaining the new procedure of bone marrow extraction. I'm sure this will help many choose to take this journey, who otherwise might have not. So simple and so easy.

[@0justBETHANY]

John stopping everything to say "There is a pirate ship" with as much intensity as I've ever seen. I didn't expect to get a view of a real pirate ship in that moment but I suppose I should have fully expected that.

[@michnish]

I had no idea it was so easy to donate bone marrow!

[@EricaGamet]

Yes! I just assumed it was still an awful and painful thing for the donor. Knowing that it's not is a really good message to get out there! Sometimes our medical knowledge is stuck in the past until people like Hank and John tell us otherwise!

[@alexandrahopf7241]

Signed up years ago ❤ So important to register. Also reassuring to know that donating no longer requires as much pain.

[@cryptidcutiecosplay]

John going "we're rooting against that" after Hank explains the bone marrow thing, like he's checking to make sure 😂

[@DKMSUnitedStates]

Wow!! Thank you so so much you guys. Please register if you can!

[@strawberry0gurt.]

“we’re rooting against that” “very much so”

[@Ford_prefect_42]

I'm glad you don't have to stick it into your nose, John! And wow! The bone marrow donation process is so much easier now!! That's really great to know!

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

At the start I was like this is a very weird vibe, then you said it was a retake and it all made sense. Aaaanyway I tried to sign up to the Anthony Nolan Trust register like 12 years ago and they didn't want me due to a genetic condition that doesn't affect my bone marrow or blood or immune system at all so I'm gonna take this video as a sign to try again but through DKMS this time and see if I can help. Thank you ❤

[@MimsieSky]

Thank you Thank you Thank you for doing this. I have a rare form of blood cancer where the only cure is a Bone Marrow transplant. Luckily it's treatable in the meantime, but someday, I may need a transplant and this is just so amazing for others like me that need this transplant now.

[@zerocell2657]

The pirate ship plot twist was unexpected

[@ERYN__]

It's weird to see John be the silly brother.

[@LimitedWard]

I joined a bone marrow registry years ago, and last year I got contacted out of the blue that I was a match. I got to donate stem cells to save a stranger's life, which was a cool experience and mostly pain free! I would absolutely do it again if asked.

[@catherinesvideos156]

Thank you for being a donor from a transplant survivor

[@kiyahforever]

First John's baseball cards, now his cells. Typical younger brother behavior.

[@steggopotamus]

Deep cut

[@KishoreShenoy1994]

I've got an inoperable benign tumour and had parotid cancer; and I'm on the DKMS register

[@emberberber]

As an acute myeloid leukemia survivor (four years and 7 months in remission!) I am IMMENSELY grateful to anyone who signs up for the bone marrow registry. I was on the registry before my diagnosis and it is SO easy to sign up. Like Hank, I was able to treat my blood cancer with chemo only but will need a matching donor if it returns because autologous transplant probably won't be an option. Please sign up if you can!

[@ornitorrinco_en_la_caverna]

Schrödinger's cancer.

[@dfleck9210]

I was wondering what the "Deutsche Knochen-Mark-Spenderdatei" shirt was about! I wasn't aware that they were operating internationally!

[@faizanquraishi4126]

The notion that bones are individual organs is just a little less creepy than the notion that your entire skeleton collectively is just one single organ

[@shannons2695]

Thank you for bringing light to this! My cousin passed away from a form of leukemia in 2014. Her twin and dad were bone marrow donors for her. It helped her go into remission for a while and gave our family/her more time together. It's not always an end cure but can be so helpful to folks going through cancer.

[@Maistra13]

Been on the registry for 14 years, so glad you're using your reach to spread the word!

[@Yawz80085]

I just signed up to get a swab! Thanks for the info! I feel like knowledge is power and both of you have both! ❤️

[@djhellard7335]

osteosarcoma survivor here! almost 7 years in remission. Sending so much support to you guys for all the work you do!

[@calebcorrea7556]

My Mom life's has been saved by Bone Marrow Transplants Twice. Thank you to all donors for the beautiful lives you have helped continue.

[@okayheykae]

Yay I love that I was wrong on the last video and Hank really was gonna see John tomorrow!

[@nicoleconnell2602]

I’ve been on the registry for a few years now and can confirm they make it super easy! It’s also particularly important to think about it if you are a person of color, as there are many under represented ethnicities in the registry.

[@RachelBayati]

Thanks in advance to all who decide to sign up as a potential bone marrow donor! My late husband had leukemia and went through 2 bone marrow transplants that allowed him and I to have 3 more years together. I am forever thankful to both his donors that allowed us to have that extra time. For many people it is a life-saving procedure that allows them to go into remission and beyond!

[@sbarbs]

Hi Hank and John, this is really beautiful timing on your parts. I have a very close friend with a very rare form of leukemia and he's waiting to see if his closest match donor will be able to donate. I think he should learn this week. I've been registered in NMDP for about ten years now, and it's so important for people to join registries like NMDP and DKMS. Thank you for highlighting this!

[@Martcapt]

John looks like a person who just filmed the whole video out of focus. Which I didn't think it would have a specific look, but it's totally the look John has.

[@osch3343]

I love our Boys! Happy to see you both together! And thank you for the explanation that donating bone marrow is much easier than it used to be 🙌🏻

[@Martcapt]

These two are just.... *chefs kiss* Keep up the wonderful work!

[@juliaheinzelmann7756]

I did the DMKS swap a few months ago, can confirm its quick and painless. I thought it was a germany-only thing. Glad to know its an international thing, more chances that a match can be found.

[@mansee6023]

The visual and sound effects were appreciated, John!

[@kellikilleen1105]

Yay I love it when you guys are together!

[@whitec21]

Registered for a swab kit! Didn't even know this was a thing I could do, so thank you!

[@sarahng5191]

I'm in Canada but been wanting to do this! Will get it done

[@HouseMDaddict]

I always get so excited when the brothers are together in a video! 😁

[@just.a.sad.frogman]

I'm away for school right now and so I'm not around my siblings and so seeing Hank and John just being weird together makes me happy.

[@thackernerd]

I donated bone marrow stem cells a few years ago through a similar registry to DKMS. The most painful part of the procedure was the small pinch of the needle going into my arm (which, fun fact, is caused by the alcohol that sterilized the needle). You are more or less just hooked up to an IV for a few hours. It was so painless and easy, and I would do it 100x over again in order to save somebody's life. I highly encourage everybody to sign up.

[@Graelcase]

Wild facts, love the back and forth.

[@victoriaz14]

I registered with Be The Match back in 2017, but since it's been more than 5 years I am going to register again to make sure I'm still in the database!

[@tass466]

My partner was contacted by BeTheMatch over 11 years after signing up, so you're probably good! We did think they were spam when they first reached out though. 😂😂

[@ostremnomer]

Just a heads up they are now called the National Marrow Donor Program. They wanted to clear up some branding a couple years back.

[@scottieapplseed]

Fascinating! I'm sooo glad to know they have such a better way of harvesting marrow less problematically for the donor; that's fantastic!

[@bookishdaydreams4993]

If you’re Swedish, you should register for Tobiasregistet, which is equivalent to the list that Hank and John is talking about!

[@LochNessie2626]

I had been avoiding signing up for this in Canada because I thought the old collection method still applied! Thank you for updating my knowledge so I feel more confident signing up

[@nicolebeck7322]

I just registered! Never underestimate Nerdfighteria!

[@oppositeofsalt8213]

ITS A REUNION VIDEOOOOO

[@AThirstyPhilosopher]

The talking over one another and not even skipping a beat. That’s family.

[@alexissolaris]

Pretty sure the sailing ship is the "San Salvador" from the San Diego Maritime Museum.

[@chriss1331]

The Australian equivalent is called the ABMDR (Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry)

[@haroldsaxon1075]

Hope you're both having a great time in my hometown!

I was once selected by DKMS as a cell donor and spent two days in Cologne, GER. It was an adventure. The procedure is actually quite fun, from a geeky perspective, that is. The worst that can happen is dizziness and maybe a headache, that’s it. There’s nothing to lose and it might save another person’s life. Just do it. Register.

[@begaracancer]

I love that you promote that. Here in Spain if you donated blood at anypoint in your life you only need to sing a pappe. It is sooo easy and you could save a life

[@TGreen89]

Today I learned that you were 2 different people. I just thought you looked different from time to time 🤦‍♀️😂

[@JustMeJH]

Hank, I’ve had two autologous stem cell transplants to treat my multiple myeloma (blood cancer of the plasma cells). They are no walk in the park, but I’ve found them to be highly effective in resetting my body to a less cancerous state of being. They’re part of the reason I’m still alive 14+ years after being diagnosed. If I ever need a third stem cell transplant, I would need to have a donor transplant, and I can’t say enough good things about organizations that register donors and the wonderful people who sign up to possibly be donors. Another great organization is Be The Match. My cancer is stable now, so I don’t see a third transplant on the horizon, but there are many, many people who need this help. It only takes a few minutes to possibly save a life!

[@bobhanson1037]

Thank you so much for the info. I thought it was still the drilling. Now I'll sign up.

[@ostremnomer]

For clarity, some recipients may still need that type of donation, but the other is much more common. More importantly, you are not obligated or forced to participate if it is one technique vs. the other. If you are matched with a patient, you will be notified once the doctors determine the type of donation the patient requires. You would then be given the opportunity to opt out if it is the procedure you are worried about. They would also answer any questions and alleviate concerns to the best of their ability before going forward. The registries are really great at helping donors feel informed and supported, so I strongly recommend registering if you are able.

[@bobhanson1037]

​@@ostremnomer did so, and thank you for the additional info!

[@acdameli]

I wanted to thank you guys specifically for this video. It prompted me to look into something that has always bothered me. I was born in Canada but spent 5 years living in Saudi Arabia when I was very young. I have always been told I am unable to donate blood and it has always bothered me. After seeing this I was curious about whether I could donate and lo and behold the restriction seems to have been removed in both Canada and the US (where I now reside). I will be asking around to confirm. Anyway, thank you for this prompt. Love your work.

[@spencercreelman8498]

In Canada you must be between 17 and 35 to donate, which is another limiting factor on the amount of donors we have! Please register at Canadian Blood Services if you are able

[@osmia]

+

[@Skan735]

Well, I've signed myself up! Especially now that I know that actually donating doesn't require drilling into bone. Not having to deal with the heebie-jeebies sure makes it a lot easier to sign up!

[@JosephTaber]

I did it back in the day when typing involved getting your blood drawn. So glad technology has made it more accessible!

[@elizabethwhite6062]

Hank couldn't have been there the whole time- he's not from Cambridge Massachusetts!

[@ashtuatara]

Hey Hank, where are you from