“I really hope that the little boy gets well again!”

Marcel Böcker from Lindwedel once again donates stem cells for a child with blood cancer

Wedemark, 28 May 2025 – Every 27 seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer. When Marcel Böcker found out that a little boy had been diagnosed with the disease, the 29-year-old from Lindwedel agreed immediately to become a bone marrow donor. His second donation in the fight against the disease is already scheduled for the near future.

29-year-old Marcel Böcker felt sick to his stomach when he saw a poster in his home village of Schwarmstedt. It reported that an old schoolmate of his had been diagnosed with blood cancer and urgently needed a stem cell donation. Blood cancer causes damage to the bone marrow, which then produces abnormal blood cells that multiply uncontrollably and displace healthy cells. This leads to symptoms such as constant fatigue, increased susceptibility to infections and bleeding. In the worst-case scenario, the entire immune system can fail. Those affected need healthy bone marrow from a donor. “Two friends and I decided to become bone marrow donors,” says Marcel Böcker, who works as a varnisher at Lutz-Jesco in Wertheim.

Marcel Böcker and two friends registered as donors with the DKMS.

The friends contacted the German Bone Marrow Donor Register (DKMS), a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting blood cancer. The DKMS has set itself the task of registering as many potential donors as possible. Hospitals around the world can then access the DKMS database to search for suitable donors. Finding a match then comes down to luck, as patients require the most accurate DNA match possible to ensure that their body does not reject the donation. According to the DKMS, only one in three patients finds a donor. In Marcel Böcker's case, he was unable to donate bone marrow directly to his old schoolmate. Böcker: “Fortunately, though, he did find a suitable bone marrow donor, and is now in complete remission.”

“The DKMS told me that I could help a young boy with a bone marrow donation.”

The list of people needing a blood marrow donor is long. According to the DKMS, someone in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer every 27 seconds. Many patients first undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy the diseased bone marrow and degenerated cells. At the same time, the search for a donor begins in global databases – the DKMS alone currently has 7.9 million registered donors in Germany. If two people are a match, the potential donor receives a phone call. The phone rang for Marcel Böcker in mid-2024. “The DKMS told me that I could help a little boy of primary school age with a bone marrow donation,” recalls Marcel. “Of course, I didn't hesitate for a second.” After giving his consent, he underwent preliminary examinations and finally the operation in a donation centre.

The first procedure: surgery under general anaesthesia

Everything went smoothly with the donation procedure, and the operation, performed under general anaesthetic, lasted around 30 minutes. Marcel lay on his stomach so that the doctors could extract bone marrow from his pelvic bone using a hollow needle. The sick boy then received the blood stem cells via a blood transfusion. The healthy stem cells migrate into the bones and settle there to build up new, healthy bone marrow. “I woke up from the anaesthetic and felt no pain at all – there was no bleeding either,” recollects Marcel. “Only my face was a little swollen, probably from lying on my stomach during the operation. But it was really no big deal.” Marcel was able to leave the hospital after two days.

The second donation is imminent

Marcel has absolutely no regrets about becoming a bone marrow donor. Quite the opposite: “It's a fantastic feeling to know that you're giving someone and their family a second chance at life,” says Marcel. “It's an extremely emotional experience that I can recommend to everyone.” Unfortunately, the little boy is not out of the woods yet. He needs another donation, and Marcel has already agreed to help. This time, however, the 29-year-old will not need surgery. Instead, he will be able to make a so-called peripheral blood stem cell donation. Marcel will receive a drug that flushes the stem cells from his bone marrow into his blood. He will then spend several hours connected to a machine that filters the stem cells from his blood. “I really hope that this helps the little boy to get well again! And it would be nice if we could finally meet each other.”

“A wonderful example of humanity and selflessness!

Marcel Böcker has won the respect of his colleagues. “Many of my colleagues have commented positively” says a happy Marcel. Heinz Lutz, CEO of Lutz-Jesco, agrees: “Marcel is a wonderful example of humanity and selflessness. His actions have not only benefited the recipient directly, but have also had a positive impact on those around him.”

About Lutz Holding GmbH

Lutz Holding GmbH has stood for professional fluid management since 1954. The group of companies unites internationally active companies in pump technology as well as water treatment and disinfection and is represented by 16 subsidiaries and agencies in over 80 countries worldwide. The group includes Lutz Pumpen GmbH in Wertheim, Lutz-Jesco GmbH in Wedemark and Lutz-Jesco Suisse SA in Couvet, Switzerland. The portfolio includes pumps, systems and accessories for dosing, pumping, emptying and mixing processes for a wide range of fluids. Lutz Group products are used in numerous sectors, including the chemical industry, food industry, automotive production, water and waste water treatment and the paint and coatings industry.