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Actress Kim Ji-soo Donates Stem Cells to Leukemia Sufferer

TV actress Kim Ji-soo has donated her hematopoietic stem cells to a leukemia patient. "She was told by a general hospital in Seoul that there was a patient with a matching genotype, so she donated her hematopoietic stem cells to the patient", a spokesman for her agency Namoo Actors said Monday. "She's been recuperating at home since she left hospital".

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Hematopoietic stem cells are essential in building up white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets and usually derive from bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, or umbilical cord blood.

Kim's were reportedly extracted from her blood. A donor is given several injection of drugs before the extraction.

According to her agency, Kim (39) underwent various tests in the hospital for three or four days. She donated the cells last Thursday and left hospital the following day.

In February 2005, Kim pledged through the Korean Organ Donor Program to donate her organs in case of brain death, her corneas after death, and bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells when the need arises.

"Kim didn't want people to know about her donation of hematopoietic stem cells", the spokesman said. "But it seems the story was made public after she was spotted visiting the hospital".

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