Generosity of Strangers
So, I know this is the second post on the new blog and I should probably be posting a lot about happy, excited BlogHer stuff (and I will, probably tomorrow, and soon enough you’ll be bored to pieces by it), my mind is elsewhere today.
You see, while at work I got a chance to see an old friend. When I say old, I mean I’ve known her for a while, in fact, she’s actually a year or two younger than I am. And she has cancer, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
I didn’t get to spend much time with her today, but I did learn that she’s in need of a bone marrow transplant and as I understand it, is trying to find a match. I don’t know her blood type, but I know she’s a while female (and typically non-caucasian races are tougher to match) and that she’s too young to face this future.
Just a few years ago, my friend was applying to medical school, a dream she didn’t get to pursue. Just a few years ago, she was strong as ever, standing in the sun for hours with a big goofy sombrero. Just a few years ago, she was just like me. And now, her life depends upon the generosity of others.
I wish that I was getting ready to tell you that I had gone and registered myself in the marrow registry, because that is my first inclination. However, because my duraplasty (brain surgery patch) is made from cow parts, I am permanently forbidden from donating anything due to an increased risk of the human variant of Mad Cow. I can’t help my friend. But maybe you can.
I’m not asking for money, and I’m not even asking for you to run and join the Bone Marrow Registry (but if you want to, here is the link), but I am asking you to just think about it. Consider what good you can do for people like my friend, who have exhausted their chemo and radiation options. Whose very lives depend upon the generosity of strangers like you.
For me, and more for her, please, think about it. And even if you can’t commit, spread the word. You’ll never know all the good you can do until you try.
14 Responses to “Generosity of Strangers”
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Welcome! I'm Katie, a 27 year old, full-time graduate student who just happened to have brain surgery in November of 2007 to give my ginormous brain a little more space. This blog chronicles my daily life, from relentless headaches to falling over in public to being a doctor's wife. Sit down, get comfortable and stay for a while.
I wish I could help, but I, too, am never allowed to donate blood. Probably not even organs although that is something I had always intended to do. You see, I had Hodgkins and I was lucky enough that my own stem cells were usable so I didn’t need to go thru the stress of finding a donor.
Please, I was damn lucky and I know it – please consider helping someone who’s not as lucky. Going through cancer, chemo, all the uncertainty and exhaustion is a tremendous load. You might be able to lighten someone’s load. Don’t just idly wish you could do something about cancer. Don’t passively accept that you won’t find the cure for cancer – you might just BE someone’s cure.
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Thanks for bringing this up, Katie. Joining the registry is easy, and very non-invasive. I’m not sure if they still require you to pay to cover the costs of tissue typing, but if money is a limiting factor, here are some options:
- The National Bone Marrow Donation program typically runs donor drives a couple times a year where they waive the fee. I joined it for free a little over a year ago during a Mother’s Day promotion
- Often local (in-person) drives in your area are free to you. Local hospitals and/or blood centers may also waive the fees, especially for people of color.
- ” offers free kits for tissue typing (you can order online), and joining their registry also enters you into the National Bone Marrow registry
- If you’re pregnant (or have friends who are), encourage them to donate their
- Can’t donate for medical (or other) reasons? It costs around $65 for tissue typing for one person. Consider making a donation to an organization the recruits donors, or offer to pay the fee for a friend or family member.
It took me a couple years of thinking about joining before I actually did. So, I echo Katie’s sentiment to consider it, mull it over, learn more, and then go from there.
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Unrelated note to Katie – I kindly request that you put a comment preview function on this blog. Maybe I’ll even comment more than once in a blue moon then… (but no promises!)
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aarg, sorry about the crazy linking going on up there. That’s why I need the preview function!
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Katie Reply:
July 20th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Robin-
I’ll work on getting previews available. You overestimate my tech abilities a little.
But your comment rocks. Hard.
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Already got tested over 10 years ago…never been a match.
Continuing to pray!
2 Samuel 22:31-33 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
Prayer Bears
My email address
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I registered a couple of years ago. Still haven’t been a match. It truly is painless to register. You just swipe a special Q-Tip in your mouth and you’re done. I was charged a fee, but so what?
Still hoping to match.
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I’ll keep your friend in my prayers. In April, I signed up for the registry. One of my friends has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I can’t say I was knowledgeable about the process until I did it myself. I paid $25, but sometimes the fee is paid for you. It’s not much to save a life. I would also encourage your readers to donate blood if they are able. Summer brings dangerous shortages.
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As you can surely imagine, there are no parts of my body that anyone would want, need, or be allowed to harvest. But, because I spend so much time in the world of cancer, I truly understand the gift that donating blood, stem cells, bone marrow, etc. is. And with only 70% of one kidney left, I always also encourage people to sign organ donation cards so that they can help people live full and healthy lives.
Thus, the only thing I have to offer your friend is prayer and the reminder that our God is bigger than anything . . . especially cancer. And that is what I am giving today: hope, faith, and a belief that our God listens to our prayers, is willing to help, and will see to it that your friend is never alone in her journey.
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On the registry. Ready when I’m needed.
Hallie
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I can’t donate either, but my husband can and does. I hate not being able to donate! Thanks for spreading the word.
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I have been meaning to register for a long time. I have now. Thanks for the link and the reminder about how important it is.
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I registered long ago, when I helped my college service fraternity run a bone marrow registry drive on campus. Since that was about 10 addresses and many years ago, I recently re-registered at a work-sponsored drive.
Not only is the registration process very easy and painless, I was told that the donation process is also much less invasive and painful than it used to be. I think they may still use needles for extraction in some cases, but they can also get the bone marrow directly from filtered donor blood.
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I’m a universal donor (O-)
BTW this is you cousin. haha. Let me know if I can help.
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I wish I could donate but I am not allowed. But definitely I’ll pray and spread the word of generosity.
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