"I hope so much that the little boy will get better!"

Marcel Böcker from Lindwedel once again a stem cell donor for a child with blood cancer

Wedemark, May 28, 2025 - Every 27 seconds, a person in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer. When Marcel Böcker heard that a little boy had been affected, the 29-year-old from Lindwedel didn't hesitate for a second and immediately agreed to be a donor for a bone marrow transplant. His second donation in the fight against the disease is due soon.

29-year-old Marcel Böcker suddenly felt sick to his stomach when he saw a poster in his home village of Schwarmstedt. It said that an old friend from school was suffering from blood cancer and urgently needed a stem cell donation. In this disease, the bone marrow is so damaged that it produces abnormal blood cells that multiply uncontrollably and replace the healthy cells. This leads to symptoms such as constant tiredness, increased susceptibility to infections or bleeding - in the worst case, the entire immune system fails. Those affected are therefore dependent on healthy bone marrow from a donor. "As a result, two friends and I decided to become bone marrow donors ourselves," says Marcel Böcker, who works as a painter at the industrial company Lutz-Jesco in Wertheim.

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

To become donors, the friends contacted the German Bone Marrow Donor Center (DKMS) - a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. Its aim is to register as many potential donors as possible. Hospitals from all over the world can then access the organization's database to search for suitable donors. A game of chance in which the most exact DNA match possible is crucial to avoid rejection reactions in the recipient's body. According to DKMS, this is why only one in three patients finds a donor. Marcel Böcker was also unable to donate bone marrow directly to his old friend. Böcker: "Fortunately, however, he found a suitable bone marrow donor. He is now completely healthy again."

"The DKMS told me that I could help a little boy with a bone marrow donation"

But the rest of the list of those affected is long. According to DKMS, one person in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer every 27 seconds. Many patients then first receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which destroys the diseased bone marrow and the degenerated cells. At the same time, the search for a donor begins in worldwide databases - 7.9 million people are currently registered with DKMS in Germany alone. If two people match, the donor receives a call. Marcel Böcker's phone rang in mid-2024: "DKMS told me that I could help a young boy of primary school age by donating bone marrow," Böcker recalls. "Of course, I didn't hesitate for a second." After his consent, he underwent a preliminary examination and finally an operation at a collection center.

The first procedure: an operation under general anesthesia

The bone marrow donation operation went smoothly. The procedure under general anesthesia lasted around 30 minutes. Marcel Böcker lay on his stomach so that the doctors could remove 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 a new, healthy bone marrow. "I woke up from the anesthetic and had no pain at all - there was no bleeding either," recalls Böcker. "Only my face was a bit puffy, probably because of the prone position during the operation. But that really wasn't a problem." Böcker was able to leave the hospital after two days.

The second donation is imminent

Böcker does not regret the bone marrow donation for a second. Quite the opposite. "It's a fantastic feeling to know that you're giving a person and their family the chance of a second life," says Böcker. "It's a mega-emotional experience that I can only recommend to anyone." Unfortunately, the little boy is not out of the woods yet. He needs another donation. Böcker has already pledged his help. This time, however, the 29-year-old does not need an operation. Instead, a so-called peripheral stem cell donation will suffice. Böcker will receive a drug that flushes the stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood. The doctors will then connect him to a device that filters the stem cells from the blood for a few hours. "I hope so much that this will make the little boy healthy again. It would also be nice if we could finally get to know each other."

"A great example of humanity and commitment"

Marcel Böcker also receives a lot of recognition for his commitment at work. "There are many colleagues who celebrate my donations," says Böcker happily. And Heinz Lutz, Managing Director of Lutz-Jesco, agrees: "Marcel Böcker is a great example of humanity and commitment. Such deeds not only have a direct, positive effect on the recipient, but also on the environment."

About the 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 present in over 80 countries worldwide with 16 sales and production sites. 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, conveying, emptying and mixing processes for a wide range of media. Lutz Group products are used in numerous industries, including the chemical industry, food industry, automotive production, water and wastewater treatment as well as the paint and coatings industry.