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Update May 8, 2008: After going through a battery of exams, my donor has been cleared and she will have her stem cells harvested next week on the 13th and 14th of May. They will be hand delivered to The City of Hope and transplanted into me on Thursday, May 15th. I check in to the hospital tomorrow, May 8th, and begin a 5 day regiment of chemotherapy, anti-rejection and anti-infection medications. The chemotherapy will remove my bone marrow and entire immune system. It's my understanding, that I'll be at the greatest risk the 2nd and 3rd week after transplant, while we're waiting for the donors cells to start making new bone marrow. Somewhere between days 14 and 21, after transplant, the doctors hope to see the grafting process start to work. I will be in the hospital 4-6 weeks and my goal is to be sitting in an uncomfortable chair, at the end of my cul du sac, albeit masked and my Cubs hat covering my bald head on July 4th to watch the Rose Bowl fireworks. [MORE] »
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, (CLL). I have been through three cycles of chemotherapy at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California to manage my disease. Most recently, I have participated in an experimental drug protocol. Through all of this, I have continued to work and to enjoy raising my son Matthew, now a senior in college. Recently, the chemotherapy has been ineffective and my condition is now critical. I will need to have a bone marrow transplant (BMT). Unfortunately, my sister Linda is not a match for me and thus far, the National Marrow Registry has not located a match. As difficult as it is for me to ask for help, reaching out to friends, family, my professional community and beyond is my best option. Please know in advance, how much I appreciate being able to ask for assistance at this difficult juncture in my life.
The NMDP restricts registration to ages 18-60. It is important to remember that registering only requires swabbing the inside of your mouth. The actual donation of marrow is now done in one of two ways; the traditional marrow harvest where marrow is recovered from the hip as well as a new method which is done by removing stem cells from the blood. Even if you are not a match for me, you could be the perfect match for someone else waiting for a transplant. If you cannot register please consider a financial donation to assist in the continued registration of others at Give Sunshine.org.
- Submitting information on the form below will enable a registration packet and test kit to be sent to you. The test is a cheek swab and no blood is given. The cost of processing each kit is $50. There are programs available to subsidize this fee for students and certain under-represented minority groups within the registry.
- Please complete all information so you can be contacted and get materials efficiently and please allow 7-10 days to receive your kit. If you'd prefer to register over the phone please call The City of Hope at 626-301-8483.
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| Why Join the Registry? |
The NMDP Registry of potential volunteer marrow and blood stem cell donors is the largest and most diverse in the world. The NMDP gives hope to more than 3,000 patients, at any given time, who are searching the Registry for a donor. Patients with life-threatening blood diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and certain immune system and genetic disorders are in need matched donors for their transplants. Since only 30 percent of patients needing a matched donor have a matched family member, most patients rely on NMDP donors.
Learn More at Marrow.org »
Myths & Facts about Bone Marrow Donation » |
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| Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) |
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of four main types of leukemia. About 15,340 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in 2007. About 95,579 people are living with CLL. More people are living with CLL than any other type of leukemia. Most people with CLL are at least 50 years old.
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