I get to play Santa for a 4 year-old w/leukemia: gonna donate marrow

[Cuban_Liberal]

I just now got off the phone with the National Bone Marrow Donor program ( http://www.marrow.org ), and it seems that I am a match for a 4 year-old Missouri boy with acute lymphocitic leukemia. I signed up with them several ears ago when a local child here was desperately in need of a bone-marrow transplant, and his family organized a drive to locate potential donors. I didn't match him, nor have I matched anyone else since--- until today.

Sometime in the next 6 weeks, I'll go to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis to donate my marrow, which will then be given to him in hopes of saving his life. This is the best Christmas gift I could have gotten! Wish us both luck, and please consider registering to donate, too.

:D

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/join_the_registry.html

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

1. You are a true hero!!! YAY for Cuban Liberal!!

:bounce:

[CornField]

2. Wow!

It's such a wonderful thing that I'm speechless! Best of wishes to you both.

[terrya]

3. You're doing a very good thing, CL.

That's very generous of you. I'll check that site out.

Happy Holidays to you and Paddy.

:hug:

T

[Zuni]

4. Three cheers for you

You are doing a good deed


:toast:

[mopinko]

5. awesome

i wish i could. i had a mild case of hepatitis in my misspent youth, and can't give blood, or anything. it's a real bummer to me.

[havocmom]

6. Merry Christmas! What a cool yule.

Wonderful news, greatly appreciated.

Heaven or hell can be made here on earth. You certainly are doing your part for making some heaven.

Best wishes for you and your young recipient. Know that many here will be including you all in our Christmas wishes and prayers.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

7. Wow.

That is so beautiful. Wow. :cry:


Hip Hip Hooray for CL! :yourock:

[ohioliberal]

8. You are truly a hero

In my eyes and the family your donating the marrow to. As a mother of three boys I know how this family must feel and now they truly have an angel.:loveya: :hug:

[Upfront]

9. Good Luck

You make us proud.

[Beer Snob-50]

10. fantastic!

I think that is the best gift you can give!
:toast:

[JimmyJazz]

11. CLW is right - you are a hero.

:toast:

[blm]

12. Hearts and hugs to you both.

.

[Bertha Venation]

13. You are such good people.

I feel so lucky (blessed) that you & Paddy are part of my life, Tony.

:bounce:
:hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

27. Love you too, Kim!

Merry Christmas, kiddo!

:hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. Awwww shucks,y'all...

I need that blushing icon right now. He's gonna have to do the hard part, 'cause all I have to do is lie there and have a sore butt for a few days. Y'all would do the same (and I hope you will).

:hi:

[trotsky]

15. How awesome!

I am on the registry too, and once I was called up as a potential match but the full test showed that we didn't match completely. You are a true hero for doing this!

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. Hey, you stepped up to the plate and swung!

That's what counts, and I'll bet you're a match some time in the future.

:hug:

[Lady Effingbroke]

16. Way to go, Cuban_Liberal!!!

:bounce: O8) Thank you for donating!

I registered to donate bone marrow at a blood drive a couple weeks ago - like too many people, I know someone with leukemia. :-(

[Cuban_Liberal]

18. Good deal!

:hug:

[StopTheMorans]

19. that's such an incredibly nice and altruistic gesture

the world needs more people like you :hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. The world's still full of good people.

We tend to get unfocused about that.

:hug:

[ProfessorGAC]

21. That's A Very Noble Thing!

Good for you, and good for the young lad! This is a very fine thing, that you do.
The Professor

[da_chimperor]

22. Damn, I can't even say how great you are for doing this

Seriously, the world needs more people like you. :D

[RUDUing2]

23. that is wonderful!...did you know that if you have asthma though

you can only donate bone marrow to someone with asthma? Because asthma is a genetic illness it can be transferred via bone marrow and since the person recieving the transplant has decreased immunity can cause respiratory probs..

Have you ever had a serious illness such as cancer, diabetes, heart or lung disease (incuding heart surgery and/or stroke), convulsions, chest pains, asthma or shortness of breath?
You are not eligible to be a donor if you have insulin-dependent diabetes. However, you are eligible to join if your diabetes is controlled by diet or oral medication. You are also eligible to join if:

You have had simple basal cell (skin cancer) cancer or cervical cancer in-situ
You have mitral valve prolopse
You have irregular heartbeat not requiring medication
You have exercise-induced asthma
If you have not had an asthmatic episode in five years and are not on medication, you are eligible.

for more info on the national registry

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/health_history_questionnaire.html

also CL: are you familiar w/Barnes in St. Louis? If not make sure to take money...they charge you to park in the garage...(and it isn't a nominal charge)

anyhow long post to say I am not eligible to be on the registry...but I am very impressed by you!

[Cuban_Liberal]

25. I'm good to go!

Yeah, they told me about the parking chages. Oh, well...

:)

[sniffa]

24. outstanding - and thank you!

:D

i don't know much about marrow - is it painfuL? can you die or suffer adverse symptoms due to the process?

again, thank you. :D

[Cuban_Liberal]

26. It marginally uncomfortable.

There's a small amount of discomfort involved, but we're talking Advil-type pain, not morphine-type, and it's basically zero-risk to the donor--- very safe, IOW.

:)

[sniffa]

28. rock on

and thanks for the repLy.

i have to figure out if i'm at risk before i can donate. /:)
don't they test everything anyhow?

[Cuban_Liberal]

29. Yes,they do all sorts of tests and a complete medical history.

Go for it--- you'll feel ten-feet tall the day they call you. Trust me on that one!

:D

[mogster]

30. Good stuff. This is the real Christmas spirit :-) n/t

[Cuban_Liberal]

31. Yeah, I feel like Santa Claus, for real!

:D

[Danmel]

32. That is great

My husband and I registered with the Marrow Donor Registry about 15 years ago when a young Ashkenazi Jewish woman with leukemia needed a transplant. You are more likely to get match from someone in your ethnic group. We didn't match her and unfortunately she died. i still remember her name, though I never met her and she wasn't from NY. Her name was Alison Atlas. http://www.friendsofallison.com/

Anyway, my husband got a call once that he was a potential match for a 2 year old boy with aplastic anemia. He went for further testing but wasn't a good enough match. I haven't been called but I would do it if I could.

It's a great thing you are doing Cuban Liberal- there are many good people out there. My son's 5th grade teacher gave her sister a kidney last year- so it's good to remember when we are kinda down these days that there are lots of really good people out there.

[Cuban_Liberal]

33. He is an ethnic match.

They told me that much about him. I really think most people would do it, but they just don't take the steps needed to make it happen; I know I never did, until a few years ago.

:)

[LDS Jock]

34. aww.. this is so wonderful to hear

I know you feel great, but just imagine what the family of this little boy must feel like. This truly is a heartwarming story. :hug: to you and :hug: to the little boy too. Oh hell, :grouphug: to everyone.

We really should all go sign up for this.

[Cuban_Liberal]

35. Do it, bro!

I can't even begin to describe the rush!

:hug::D

[Skittles]

36. WOO HOO Cuban_Liberal

what a great opportunity - I've been on that registry for a long, long time and would love to get a call.

I know someone who did it and he had a slightly sore butt for a few days but he was so estatic helping to save someone he said it was nothing.

Good luck to both of you. You know eventually you will have the option of meeting the family - bring a big box of Kleenex.

Isn't it strange how a total stranger can be a match when family and friends are not?

[Cuban_Liberal]

37. It's rocked my world!

I'm soooooooooooooo high right now!

:hug:

[Skittles]

39. I have always imagined it would feel like winning the lottery

yes INDEED

[Cuban_Liberal]

41. That's just EXACTLY how it feels!

:D

[Skittles]

42. LOL, you will have that smiling face for quite some time

what a high you must be on

[Cuban_Liberal]

45. Oh, yeah!

Been grinning like a jackass, since I got off the phone earlier.It didn't just make my day, it made my whole YEAR!

:D

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. *hugs and prayers* You are a sweetheart! May you both come through

with flying colors!

[Cuban_Liberal]

40. Thanks!

He's gonna have to do the hard part. My part's a piece of cake.

:hug:

[shesemsmom]

43. Wow what a wonderful way to really give a Christmas gift ... the gift of

Life!!!:yourock: And to a total stranger too. You are truely my HERO!!!!

[sbj405]

44. Wow. Very cool!

Best wishes to you and the boy. You are doing a great thing.

[auntAgonist]

46. May the child be blessed with MANY years of good health

thanks to your generous donation May you be blessed in the knowledge that you allowed that to happen. :)

[Cuban_Liberal]

47. It feels sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!

I'm one happy, grinning-like-a-jackass mofo!

:D

[auntAgonist]

58. I had a scare years ago. Had to

have bone marrow sample taken from my breast bone ... OUCH!!! major OUCH. my heart cries for those kids / people going through the constant testing and retesting ...

bless you.


If I could I'd be a donor too.

[Coventina]

48. Goddess bless you!

I'm in the Marrow donor program myself, but have never been called.

I have to say that I would be nervous about doing it, but I will do it if ever called.

What a wonderful gift of life! I'm so proud of you.
Let us know how it goes.

:hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

49. I'll keep y'all posted!

:)

[babylonsister]

50. You rock, CL!

What a great gift! I'd donate if I could, but due to having had cancer years ago, I can't even give blood anymore.

[Cuban_Liberal]

55. Thanks!

Hey, you already did something tougher than what I'm gonna do--- you beat cancer!

:hug:

[flamingyouth]

51. That is so cool!

I registered a few years ago when a friend needed a bone marrow transplant. Too bad I wasn't a match, but I'm still in the registry.

This is really great news. Thanks for what you're doing! :hi:

[Cuban_Liberal]

54. It'll happen.

My call came out of the blue this morning, and so will yours, some day.

:hug:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

52. Damn, you lucky dog!

:)

I have been registered forever and have never gotten the call. It is my biggest hope to be the "Santa" for someone in my lifetime.

Kudos to you for donating, and good luck to you and the little boy. :hi:

And to everyone who isn't registered, DO IT!

[Cuban_Liberal]

53. "And to everyone who isn't registered, DO IT!"

What she said!

:D

[lumberingbear]

56. What a Great Guy!!!!

You are awesome dude!!!

(If you need any help with treveling expenses let me know.)

Happy Holidays to you and Paddy!


:grouphug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

57. Awww, shucks!

Come on, now, you'd do the same thing in a heartbeat, if you got the chance!

:hug:

[lumberingbear]

59. This deserves a kick for evening people!

:kick:

[DODI]

60. You have brought tears to my eyes. I would love to do this

but don't know if my blood disorder would prevent it. I will talk to my doctor on Monday. God bless you and the child!

[FuriousMNDem]

61. Thanks for your donation!