What Does it Take to be a Bone Marrow Donor?

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” -Corinthians 6: 19-20

Ernie and I read of a story about a woman who has one foot in the shower and one foot out. “This is a good picture of my life,” she thought. “I want to choose God, but I keep one foot in and one foot out.” After a pause, she said “I choose God!” Then she stepped into the shower. “That was a real baptism!” she said later.

I am so thankful that God blessed me with ten siblings, all of whom were willing to “step in with both feet” to become a donor for me. My oncologist/transplant doctor wanted me to have a male donor; there are less complications with a male sibling. I was blessed to have four perfect matches out of my seven brothers. I didn’t realize how blessed I was until I started seeing stories in the news about blood cancer patients who die because they can’t find matches for them. Even more disturbing were stories about patients who had matches, but the donors backed out of the transplant opportunity.

Children and young people are dying because donors can’t be found, or they back out (one foot in). Donors are often times talked out of it by people that don’t even undrstand the process involved. I’m not saying it’s a walk in the park, but it certainly isn’t as difficult as many many think, and you may save someones life.

Donors are asked to donate stem cells. In my brother’s case, he took shots for three days prior to the donation. These shots helped him to increase his stem cell producation. On the day of my transplant, he had stem cells removed (just like donating blood), for about three and a half hours. They were then infused into my bloodstream similar to a blood transfusion. After entering the bloodstream, the cells travel to the bone marrow, where they develop into mature red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (this process is called engraftment.) When the donor lives in another state or country, the entire process takes place in their home town and the stem cells are flown to the patient.

After the transplant my, brother Bobby said he felt like he had a mild case of the flu for a few days. He is my Hero, although he tells me I am his Hero. If you could save someone’s life be donating your stem cells would you?

Please click on the link below for a real-life story which illustrates how the lack of donors & willing participants can lead to tragic outcomes:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/08/l-i-woman-dies-after-marrow-donors-refuse-to-show/

Yours in Christ, gg

Happy Fathers Day & Update on GG

“Children are a blessing from God…Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward…Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” -Psalm 127:3,5

“No man can possibly know what life means, what the world means, until he has a child and loves it - and then the whole universe changes and nothing will ever again seem exactly as it seemed before.” - Lafcadio Hearn

Thank you so much for all of your loving guestbook entries. I love reading your messages and updates! Angie - have a wonderful summer; be your best, love and miss you!

Happy Fathers Day to all of you men with children and those of you wonderful men that have taken on father roles in your life. The world and our children are so blessed to have you! There is much to celebrate on Fathers Day.

I was so blessed to have had a solid father figure; a God loving man that provided for our family through hard work at a steel mill. My Daddy was born in 1918; He lived through many difficult times including the Great Depression. He was a quiet man and a strong man of faith. He had a great love for our Blessed Mother. He taught me that actions speak louder than words, to be honest, and to do the right thing. You could not find a more decent man. He cared deeply for the common man and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

As an adult, I always felt some distance between my Dad and I. We never had deep conversations, and I wish we would have. I just think he wasn’t comfortable expressing his feelings, as is the trait of many men of that generation. I always adored my Dad as most girls do, so this has always caused an ache in my heart.

What I do know, is that my Dad loved all of his children and wanted the best for them. I also have wonderful memories of my childhood with my Dad. When I was a little girl, I remember waking up and finding him reading the newspaper in the kitchen. He would say “Good morning Buttercup.” I would sit on his lap and he would read the “funny papers” to me, in character of course. Just holding his hand when we went somewhere would make me feel safe and so happy. I loved to hand him tools when he was working on a project. I will never forget the little play house he built for us in the backyard; it looked just like a real house. My sisters and I had so much fun in that house. Oh boy,
those are good memories! I love and miss my Dad. I am so grateful to God that he gave me such a good man for a father. I am also very blessed to still have a wonderful Father-in-Law. I wish him a very happy Father’s Day!

Let me say to my incredible husband, you have been an amazing loving father to our children! I adore you and thank God for you every day.

This quote from Pam Brown reminds me so much of Ernie and the kind of father he was and is:

“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventureres, storytellers, singers of songs.”

I’m sure our kids remember his rousing bedtime versions of - “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea” and “ol Dan Tucker.” I can still remember the first time he held each of them after they were born. The love he felt was for them was that special overwhelming love that is heavenly. I know that he only loves them more now and that there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to help or protect them.
His love is a reflection of our Father’s love for each of us.

I hope that you all spend some time with your fathers if you can and take some time to recall your special memories with your Dads - love and appreciate all that they have done for you. Let us all give thanks and praise for Our Father in heaven. He loves us all unconditionally and will never abandon us!

GG Update: I was reading with my Hubby about living in the moment. We all have seen signs at places which say that you have to be “Present to Win” - whether at a raffle, or other games of chance. This is also true about our lives; only when we live in the present we can claim the prize of a fulfilling life. Moving forward through this cancer battle, I got a lesson in living in the present. You concentrate on what is happening with your body, along with simple activities like sitting up from a chair, walking up the stairs, taking a shower, reading a good story, all seem tough at times. Life is so precious that little things can bring tears to my eyes. As I walk this road to recovery with our Lord and Mother (and all of you), I take with me gratitude for the intensity of feeling and deep thanksgiving for life!

Being present to win requires letting go of the baggage of the past- the hurts, anger, losses, and grief. Being present to win requires surrendering to God worry and anxiety of the future, and welcoming with open arms the gifts and joys as well as the sorrow and pains of the moment - it takes every ounce of faith to cherish every moment in our lives. Today marks the 100th day since transplant, a milestone. Last week, I had my 6th bone marrow biopsy - at our weekly check-up yesterday, the results came back; for the second time since transplant - no sign of leukemia - and I am off the daily IV infusions - Praise God.

Love and God Bless, gg

Faith, Hope & Love

“Faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love” - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Family-

Ernie and I love to read about St. Paul. While he was on his third journey (Acts 19:1-20), he learned that the community in Corinth (a seaport in Greece), had become divided, as members began identifying themselves with different religious leaders. Thus, this quote from his letter to the Corinthians, written in about 56 AD, opens with a plea for Christian unity. My family has demonstrated Christian unity and it is such a shining example of united faith, hope and love!

I have been thinking about how much I love my family, family is something that not to be taken for granted. I am amazed at how much my family has loved and supported me, but also how much they support each other. As an exampIe, I was unable to go to my nephew’s wedding in Pueblo two weeks ago, however my girls were able to go. My brother Ruben and his wife Connie along with the help of other family members provided the wedding feast. The next weekend they cooked for another nephew’s graduation! You can also find them cooking for church dinners or making the most amazing lady fingers for events, yes, I said that delicate, yummy traditional Italian cookie lady fingers! Now, my brother Ruben is an amazing cook, people in town think he is a caterer. He could definitely cater if he wanted; however he has a full time job already. He and Connie so lovingly give this gift to others. They are two of the most generous people you could ever meet! I think that we don’t recognize how special family is sometimes and I just want to say my brothers and sisters make me so proud – they have shown love, caring, and concern with their visits and spiritual and corporal works of mercy – my Mom and Dad would be so proud!

You - my Caringbridge Community are part of my family too, taking the time to follow me on this site means the world to me. I am so grateful for you and I don’t want you to forget that. Your messages, love, prayers, and generosity have been such a blessing to me and my family and I am so thankful to The Lord for you!

I am now 87 days out from my bone marrow transplant. I’m getting close to the magic number of 100 where I won’t need to have someone with me 24/7. Although I will still be limited in what I can do and where I can go, this will ease the burden that this has placed on my two girls and Ernie. Although, I know that they will tell you it’s not been a burden but a blessing to be with me. I am the one that is blessed!

My doctor is very happy with how things are progressing. Although initially I had some GVHD (graft vs host disease) in my digestive system, it is under control now- thanks to the Prednisone! I try to walk 2 miles a day and do other exercises as well to improve my muscle strength. It’s absolutely amazing how much muscle and strength, especially in my legs, that I’ve lost, I have chicken legs now! My doctor says that the Prednisone has contributed to the muscle weakness and that it will improve in time. I’m so thankful to my wonderful husband who is so supportive and doesn’t let me slack when it comes to walking every day.

My doc has cut my visits to once a week now, instead of two (originally 3), and they weaned my off the Prednisone this week! My family is pretty excited about that. Maybe, I will see my cheekbones again someday! It’s so funny to wake up and look in the mirror some days, that bald woman with the bloated face is me. My girls actually say they love my cheeks, they think they’re cute - I wish I saw what they see. I am still getting a three hour intravenous magnesium infusion every day, which is the next thing we are working on weaning me off. If my stomach can tolerate magnesium in pill-form, I will be able to stop taking the infusions.

Next Thursday, I will get another bone marrow biopsy to make sure the leukemia is still in remission, we will keep you posted. Until then, I surrender my life to God each day and let Him take me where He will; where He takes me is always good!

Yours in Christ, gg