Some leukemia patients end up getting bone marrow transplants (not on the horizon at all right now for Sawyer). Many of you have hopefully already heard about the bone marrow registry and I'd encourage you to consider signing up for it. A dear friend of mine is currently going through treatment for breast cancer and on her blog she mentioned the registry. I signed up for it a few months ago - extremely easy and no cost. I was mailed a packet with three cotton swabs and information about the registry. After reading the material, I signed the consent form, swabbed my cheek, sent the swabs back in the postage paid envelope and am now a potential donor for someone.If I can help save a life that way, I'm all for it.
You can read more at the national marrow donor program site, Be The Match: http://www.marrow.org/Home.aspx
I'm so sorry to hear about Sawyer's illness. What a shock! I'm glad to read about all the support you are receiving, though, and Strong is a great hospital, so it's great he is there. I have a good friend who is a resident in pediatrics at Strong. Her name is Dr. Swati Murthy and I'm sure she would be happy to help you with anything if you look her up.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wanted to let people know that I too have had a great experience with the Be The Match Registry. I registered back in 2006 when I was in college by doing the cheek swab thing on my way into the dining hall one night (they had a registration table set up). In 2009, I was called and became a finalist for someone who needed a donor. I went through more careful blood screening tests, all of which were free to me and the organization was really helpful - great people! In the end, I was the "runner-up" and not the donor. As the staffer put it, it's like the Miss America pageant. Another donor won the crown for best marrow match, but had anything happened to her, they would have called me to donate.
I think it's a great concept to have a bank of people willing to donate. Your body completely regrows any marrow you donate, so there is really no downside other than a few days of soreness. I hope that one good thing to come of Sawyer's condition is that more people register to donate!