I get to play Santa for a 4 year-old w/leukemia: gonna donate marrow

I just now got off the phone with the National Bone Marrow Donor program ( http://www.marrow.org ), and it seems that I am a match for a 4 year-old Missouri boy with acute lymphocitic leukemia. I signed up with them several ears ago when a local child here was desperately in need of a bone-marrow transplant, and his family organized a drive to locate potential donors. I didn't match him, nor have I matched anyone else since--- until today.

Sometime in the next 6 weeks, I'll go to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis to donate my marrow, which will then be given to him in hopes of saving his life. This is the best Christmas gift I could have gotten! Wish us both luck, and please consider registering to donate, too.

:D

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/join_the_registry.html

:bounce:

It's such a wonderful thing that I'm speechless! Best of wishes to you both.

That's very generous of you. I'll check that site out.

Happy Holidays to you and Paddy.

:hug:

T

You are doing a good deed


:toast:

i wish i could. i had a mild case of hepatitis in my misspent youth, and can't give blood, or anything. it's a real bummer to me.

Wonderful news, greatly appreciated.

Heaven or hell can be made here on earth. You certainly are doing your part for making some heaven.

Best wishes for you and your young recipient. Know that many here will be including you all in our Christmas wishes and prayers.

That is so beautiful. Wow. :cry:


Hip Hip Hooray for CL! :yourock:

In my eyes and the family your donating the marrow to. As a mother of three boys I know how this family must feel and now they truly have an angel.:loveya: :hug:

You make us proud.

I think that is the best gift you can give!
:toast:

:toast:

.

I feel so lucky (blessed) that you & Paddy are part of my life, Tony.

:bounce:
:hug:

Merry Christmas, kiddo!

:hug:

I need that blushing icon right now. He's gonna have to do the hard part, 'cause all I have to do is lie there and have a sore butt for a few days. Y'all would do the same (and I hope you will).

:hi:

I am on the registry too, and once I was called up as a potential match but the full test showed that we didn't match completely. You are a true hero for doing this!

That's what counts, and I'll bet you're a match some time in the future.

:hug:

:bounce: O8) Thank you for donating!

I registered to donate bone marrow at a blood drive a couple weeks ago - like too many people, I know someone with leukemia. :-(

:hug:

the world needs more people like you :hug:

We tend to get unfocused about that.

:hug:

Good for you, and good for the young lad! This is a very fine thing, that you do.
The Professor

Seriously, the world needs more people like you. :D

you can only donate bone marrow to someone with asthma? Because asthma is a genetic illness it can be transferred via bone marrow and since the person recieving the transplant has decreased immunity can cause respiratory probs..

Have you ever had a serious illness such as cancer, diabetes, heart or lung disease (incuding heart surgery and/or stroke), convulsions, chest pains, asthma or shortness of breath?
You are not eligible to be a donor if you have insulin-dependent diabetes. However, you are eligible to join if your diabetes is controlled by diet or oral medication. You are also eligible to join if:

You have had simple basal cell (skin cancer) cancer or cervical cancer in-situ
You have mitral valve prolopse
You have irregular heartbeat not requiring medication
You have exercise-induced asthma
If you have not had an asthmatic episode in five years and are not on medication, you are eligible.

for more info on the national registry

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/health_history_questionnaire.html

also CL: are you familiar w/Barnes in St. Louis? If not make sure to take money...they charge you to park in the garage...(and it isn't a nominal charge)

anyhow long post to say I am not eligible to be on the registry...but I am very impressed by you!

Yeah, they told me about the parking chages. Oh, well...

:)

:D

i don't know much about marrow - is it painfuL? can you die or suffer adverse symptoms due to the process?

again, thank you. :D

There's a small amount of discomfort involved, but we're talking Advil-type pain, not morphine-type, and it's basically zero-risk to the donor--- very safe, IOW.

:)

and thanks for the repLy.

i have to figure out if i'm at risk before i can donate. /:)
don't they test everything anyhow?

Go for it--- you'll feel ten-feet tall the day they call you. Trust me on that one!

:D

:D

My husband and I registered with the Marrow Donor Registry about 15 years ago when a young Ashkenazi Jewish woman with leukemia needed a transplant. You are more likely to get match from someone in your ethnic group. We didn't match her and unfortunately she died. i still remember her name, though I never met her and she wasn't from NY. Her name was Alison Atlas. http://www.friendsofallison.com/

Anyway, my husband got a call once that he was a potential match for a 2 year old boy with aplastic anemia. He went for further testing but wasn't a good enough match. I haven't been called but I would do it if I could.

It's a great thing you are doing Cuban Liberal- there are many good people out there. My son's 5th grade teacher gave her sister a kidney last year- so it's good to remember when we are kinda down these days that there are lots of really good people out there.

They told me that much about him. I really think most people would do it, but they just don't take the steps needed to make it happen; I know I never did, until a few years ago.

:)

I know you feel great, but just imagine what the family of this little boy must feel like. This truly is a heartwarming story. :hug: to you and :hug: to the little boy too. Oh hell, :grouphug: to everyone.

We really should all go sign up for this.

I can't even begin to describe the rush!

:hug::D

what a great opportunity - I've been on that registry for a long, long time and would love to get a call.

I know someone who did it and he had a slightly sore butt for a few days but he was so estatic helping to save someone he said it was nothing.

Good luck to both of you. You know eventually you will have the option of meeting the family - bring a big box of Kleenex.

Isn't it strange how a total stranger can be a match when family and friends are not?

I'm soooooooooooooo high right now!

:hug:

yes INDEED

:D

what a high you must be on

Been grinning like a jackass, since I got off the phone earlier.It didn't just make my day, it made my whole YEAR!

:D

with flying colors!

He's gonna have to do the hard part. My part's a piece of cake.

:hug:

Life!!!:yourock: And to a total stranger too. You are truely my HERO!!!!

Best wishes to you and the boy. You are doing a great thing.

thanks to your generous donation May you be blessed in the knowledge that you allowed that to happen. :)

I'm one happy, grinning-like-a-jackass mofo!

:D

have bone marrow sample taken from my breast bone ... OUCH!!! major OUCH. my heart cries for those kids / people going through the constant testing and retesting ...

bless you.


If I could I'd be a donor too.

I'm in the Marrow donor program myself, but have never been called.

I have to say that I would be nervous about doing it, but I will do it if ever called.

What a wonderful gift of life! I'm so proud of you.
Let us know how it goes.

:hug:

:)

What a great gift! I'd donate if I could, but due to having had cancer years ago, I can't even give blood anymore.

Hey, you already did something tougher than what I'm gonna do--- you beat cancer!

:hug:

I registered a few years ago when a friend needed a bone marrow transplant. Too bad I wasn't a match, but I'm still in the registry.

This is really great news. Thanks for what you're doing! :hi:

My call came out of the blue this morning, and so will yours, some day.

:hug:

:)

I have been registered forever and have never gotten the call. It is my biggest hope to be the "Santa" for someone in my lifetime.

Kudos to you for donating, and good luck to you and the little boy. :hi:

And to everyone who isn't registered, DO IT!

What she said!

:D

You are awesome dude!!!

(If you need any help with treveling expenses let me know.)

Happy Holidays to you and Paddy!


:grouphug:

Come on, now, you'd do the same thing in a heartbeat, if you got the chance!

:hug:

:kick:

but don't know if my blood disorder would prevent it. I will talk to my doctor on Monday. God bless you and the child!