On September 19, World Bone Marrow Donor Day, that reality is once again taking center stage. Among those who know firsthand the importance of donation is Sergio Muro, a 50-year-old from Tarazona who underwent a transplant in 2023 and who, three years later, will take on 55 kilometers and 2,900 meters of elevation gain across Moncayo to raise awareness of donation and raise funds for research.
FROM LYMPHOMA TO A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT
Almost eight years ago, Sergio was diagnosed with low-grade follicular lymphoma. What initially appeared to be a limited course of treatment became more complicated, and the disease grew more aggressive. “Things became complicated; I had several relapses,” he recalls. He was referred to Barcelona, received CAR-T therapy and then entered a clinical trial that achieved the response needed for him to undergo a transplant.
The road to that transplant was especially difficult. During one of his relapses, the tumor caused spinal cord compression, making him lose sensation in part of his body and requiring emergency surgery. “From the waist down, I couldn’t feel anything,” he recalls. In March 2023, he finally received cells from his brother, who was compatible with him.
Sergio endured a difficult journey before receiving his transplant, which came in 2023 thanks to his brother
The transplant opened a new chapter, but it did not put an end to the complications. Sergio suffered several infections and, just 15 days later, acute intestinal rejection that required him to remain hospitalized for about a month. “A transplant is a very difficult process,” he explains, stressing that “the days before and after are an extremely challenging situation.”
Three years later, he continues to undergo checkups and lives with lasting effects on his back, skin and bones. Before becoming ill, he ran trail races and ultradistance events; now he can barely run because of the impact on his back. “I don’t lead a normal life, because in the end you have your issues,” he acknowledges. But that limitation has not made him give up the mountains completely.
55 KILOMETERS ACROSS MONCAYO
That is where “Transitando al Vacío III” comes in, the challenge through which he will test himself again this Saturday at the Gran Maratón Tres Picos de San Martín de Moncayo. He will cover 55 kilometers and 2,900 meters of positive elevation gain, after tackling distances of 22 and 33 kilometers in previous years. This time, he will also have to pay especially close attention to the race’s cutoff times. “Ten years ago they didn’t worry me, but now I have to,” he insists.
To be ready, Sergio has also had to adapt his training. He barely runs to avoid putting strain on his back and supplements his workouts with swimming and other exercises. His companion Joseba will accompany him until approximately kilometer 34, after which other runners will take over. “We are realistic; it’s very, very difficult. But we’re going to try,” he admits.
The race is only one part of the project. During these days, he is also taking part in talks with young people about donation, cancer, physical exercise and psychological health. “These processes are not just about a bone marrow donation; they go much further,” he explains. “There is a diagnosis, your life suddenly stops and then you have to start over.”
BONE MARROW DONATION, A SIMPLE PROCESS
This outreach work is primarily aimed at dispelling some of the fears that still surround donation. Bone marrow is the tissue where blood cells originate, and its transplant can be used to treat certain leukemias, lymphomas and bone marrow aplasias. Stem cells are obtained through apheresis in most cases or, when necessary, through a puncture in the hip bone.
During these days, he is taking part in talks with young people about donation, cancer, physical exercise and psychological health
Sergio places particular emphasis on explaining how simple the initial procedure can be. Blood leaves through one arm, a machine separates the hematopoietic stem cells and the rest returns to the body. “The donor can be reading a book or watching a video,” he points out. He found his match in his brother, although he also knows of very close cases involving anonymous donors.
A colleague who takes part in talks with him donated to a German patient, and his nephew Rubén was selected this summer for a pediatric case. They are examples of a network that is also continuing to grow in Aragón. The challenge is also raising funds for the Josep Carreras Foundation and Dona Médula Aragón, but Sergio insists on the ultimate goal of these projects: “raising awareness of these diseases and bone marrow donation.”
