Amidst all the things that have been going on recently; the new child at home, the added workload of sermons, the trip to Texas for the wedding, etc., I keep forgetting to tell folks (mostly family) what interesting thing has been going on "on the side", so to speak.
About 7-8 weeks ago I was contacted by the National Bone Marrow Donation Program. Back in 2000, at a bone marrow screening at our church, I had given my consent to donate bone marrow if I was ever found to be a match for somebody. (I had forgotten I had even done this)
They called and informed me that I was a potential match for a leukemia patient. After numerous 'health interviews,' a large blood draw, etc. I assumed I would not hear from them again, because even if you are a recognized potential match, they say odds are 1 in 12 that you will actually be enough of a match to donate....so I assumed I would never hear from them again...
Well, I did hear from them; and I am a match for this particular patient (they will only tell me he is a 53 year old leukemia patient - I have no idea where he lives or if he has family or anything). So I was given a physical at the hospital, more blood was drawn, etc. And now I donate tomorrow morning at 7am. I have been going to the hospital since Sunday to receive daily injections of a drug that causes my bone marrow to produce massive amounts of bone marrow stem cells, which are released into my blood for lack of a better place to go. This has made me feel very weird (kinda sick) and my bones ache, but nothing too uncomfortable. With all these stem cells swimming around in my blood, tomorrow I will get hooked up to a machine where they will take my blood, take the stem cells they need out, and put my blood back in. The process takes about 5 hours.
Kinda neat, huh? Once they have my stem cells packed up, a guy will take them, get on a plane immediately and go to the patient (wherever he might be). They will infuse the stem cells ASAP, for right now they are 'zapping' his bone marrow - if he doesn't get my cells quickly, he'll be toast. But, here's the deal; they informed me that if I did not donate and they couldn't find another match, his chances of being alive this time next year are about zero. If I donate, his chances of being alive and starting a normal healthy life again this time next year jump to about 80%. I'd be selfish and a real blockhead not to do this. So someday, somewhere, a guy about 20 years older than me will be walking around with my immunity system!
Anyway, sorry I keep forgetting to tell people things like this that I do - I just get a little busy and forget to share.
Mark
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