I Could Be A Match-Could You?
- posted by: Rebecca
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: June 19, 2009
As some of you may know, I volunteer with ConKerr Cancer to sew pillowcases for pediatric cancer patients. During our recent trip to Greenville, I talked some of the other leads into doing it with me at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte (see post here). I love to do it, but sometimes I get a little emotional when I see those kids.
The Monday after we returned home from Greenville, I found out that a six-year old boy named Jack, who had just joined our quarter midget track, was diagnosed with cancer. For some reason this hit me pretty hard. Perhaps it was because he was a racer like my son and almost the same age, or perhaps it was because I had just spent the day with some pretty sick kids and I knew what might be in store for him. No matter what the reason was, I felt like I needed to do something. I spoke with those lovely ladies at the Hendrick Marrow Foundation, Courtney and Pam, and told them about Jack and the fundraiser that Jack’s home track was hosting for him. The plan was formulated to hold a bone marrow donor registration drive at the fundraiser, and the Hendrick Foundation generously agreed to cover the costs for the first 100 people that signed up. I’m proud to say that as of June 6th, I am offically a potential bone marrow donor. I may never be called (some folks have been on the registry for 20 years and have never been contacted), but I could also be the only match for a person in need. There are over 4,300 transplants done a year, and only 30% of patients that need one have a match in their family. Some folks ask how I would feel donating to a stranger. I tell them that I just put myself in the shoes of the many parents that can’t find a match for their child, and I know that I am doing the right thing.
Right now, the Be The Match Foundation is sponsoring a registration drive, and signing up for the registry is free until June 22nd. If you’d like more information on registering to be a donor, visit their website at www.marrow.org. You could be a match!
If you’d like to make Jack a card, feel free to send it to me and I’ll make sure he gets them!
Stephanie #3584 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 3:07 pmThis is great. I will check it out.
so was this painful?
Pinky #3405 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 3:41 pmThat is a great cause! We were just speaking about Conkerr at the Dinner here in Murfreesboro the other night.
There is a drop off site close to our town! Thanks for being aware of this, I know it means the world to anyone who deals with Cancer.
Rebecca says:
June 19th, 2009 at 4:04 pmSteph, the inital registration just requires four mouth swabs, not painful at all!
Michelle 3624 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 4:29 pmGreat now you have me crying. . . dang you!
I am a donor already my sister has leukemia it is in remission now but we have had some really bad moments.
I would not think twice about helping another family out life has a way of putting you were you are suppose to be at that moment in time.
Tifany #5942 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 5:40 pmI doubt they’d let me be a marrow donor since I have an auto-immune disease.
Good for you for trying to help save a life!
Terri #5895 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 8:35 pmI was a donor for my brother, Donny. There’s no greater feeling in the world than knowing you can help someone so easily. I’d still be on the registry today if it weren’t for certain health concerns, and I will again when they’re over with. The only reason they used me that time is because I was a sibling. The first test they do is swabbing your mouth. If they know your a good match and they narrow it down some more, they take a tube or 2 of blood from your arm. When they get ready for more, you get tested for everything under the sun, and they take more tubes. The actual donation (a turning point in my life)was really anticlimactic for me. I laid in a bed for 2 days, they ran my blood through a pheresis machine, and there was no pain at all. If you get called, take some books on tape. They seldom do the old-style harvesting anymore, this is cheaper, faster, and easier. If you ever get the chance to be a donor, it will mean more to you than anything else. The hardest part for me was staying healthy for a year and a half (diagnosis to his finish line).
NanaBeth #2906 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 8:40 pmI’ve been on the donor list for almost 10 years. Ready, willing, and waiting for the call!
doverdi says:
June 20th, 2009 at 4:58 amWhat an awesome cause & generous decision on your part. I’d love to do something like that but unfortunately having an auto-immune disease I can’t even give blood.
maryannehoekman says:
June 20th, 2009 at 8:17 amrebecca,
I am officially crying as I type. What a wonderful thing that you did! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Connie #627 says:
June 20th, 2009 at 9:28 amAwesome thing you did. I have been a blood donor for years-didn’t know about this.
Elizabeth #1802 says:
June 20th, 2009 at 8:53 pmI have been on the list for probably about 10 years….
Laura #1943 says:
June 21st, 2009 at 11:07 amThanks for the “happy” tears…once I’m med free …I’ll be happy to see if I qualify ! HUGGS…You, my dear friend, are amazing (but I already knew that!) xo
Fran # 4515 says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:39 amThanks for the info - I’ve been donating blood - but for newborns - I’m a 58 year old woman with CMV negative blood and that’s the perfect blood for a newborn! I think everyone should donate something!