I already used the Beatles' "I've just seen a face" for one of my blog titles, so for today's post I included a little ditty from 1965; Tom Jones and "It's not unusual"- one of my favorite happy songs. I am happy, I hope you are too.
When one goes through a life saving procedure like a bone marrow transplant there are a lot of ups and downs, emotions, and changes. When I first decided to go with the procedure I tried to use my siblings as donors, but my sister Cathy had just been diagnosed with ALS and my brother Alan was not a match. My next option was finding an unrelated donor from the pool of over a million people worldwide who have signed up to possibly help people like me. The folks at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance found a few donors, at crunch time there was only one who was a 100% match, and willing to donate. I had the procedure May 14, 2010 and was told that after a year my donor could contact me if she wanted to, but not until then. After about 6 months I received a very nice almost-anonymous card from her, but the communication was minus identifying facts. We communicated incommunicado back and forth until I relapsed early in 2011, and told her I was looking at a second transplant. I was very worried that the possible new donor would be less than good news for my current donor after her sacrifice. As we now know, the second transplant did not occur... After my "birthday" I signed off to provide details about me to my donor, and hoped she would identify herself as well. A few weeks ago we discovered each others names, and other information! She lives in Massachusetts, is about the same age as me, and has a great life with a husband and grown children. We are now friends on Facebook, (if I ever figure out how to use it) and I hope to be able to personally thank her in the very near future. Meeting someone over a computer is still not quite the same as in real life! I can't tell you how just being alive with hope for the future feels when you know the person who helped save your life. I can say that there are many patients among the 1500 or so adults who are diagnosed with ALL each year who never find a donor, are too sick for a transplant, or just don't qualify for the procedure. Their situation is not quite as hopeful unfortunately.
So, here's to my identified Donor, I hope she reads today's post and maybe even comments. But no pressure!
29 comments:
Dear Anonymous donor, Thank you for helping our dear friend Greg by your selfless donation. We all appreciate your kindness and generosity of giving life. Thank you! :-) May God bless you and your family!
That was nice Alice! Thank you for your support along the way- it helps a lot.
:) Greg
Yes thank you donor, that's an amazing thing to do. The gift of life!
Tom Jones Mom's favorite!
Prayers :-)
and Hello to Yvonne and Sadie
Greg, my sister is your donor and I just want you and your family to know you have an ENORMOUS family here on the East Coast pulling for you. We think of you every day !!!
Dear Greg, Love that song! Thank you for your kind words - what an incredible feeling to be able to finally communicate. Kevin and I are also looking forward to being able to meet you and your wife some day soon. Continued good health - what an awesome blog you have kept.
Dear Greg: Edie is my BFF of 46 years and I was so excited that you two finally met. What a beautiful note in your blog recognizing her. As Chris stated, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Stay well.
Mary-Beth
To the anonymous recipient, who is no longer anonymous – Greg, your east coast “family” has been waiting so long for this day. My name is Jackie and I am a sister of your donor (1 of the 5 sisters). You should know that you have been in my (and my family’s) thoughts and prayers since learning of your need for a transplant. We waited eagerly for updates on your prognosis. We are all very proud of our sister and her selfless act. I hope that your health continues to improve so that you can enjoy the next chapters in your life. Reading your blog is like reading missing chapters of the last year. Edie inspired me to also enter the bone marrow registry. Cheers!
Dear Greg, I am so happy that you and my mother finally met! My name is Michelle, her youngest of three. Ever since the day my mother donated her bone marrow, you have been in my thouhts and prayers. I hope all stays well with your health. :)
Oh and by the way, your dog Sadie is adorable!
Well what a day! I wish I would have checked the comments earlier. Yvonne and I got emotional reading the comments from Edie, sisters Christine, Mary-Beth, Jackie and daughter Michelle. I am looking forward to meeting as many of my new east coast relatives as I can to be sure. Thank you so much for the support of Edie, her family and I during this past year plus. I am so happy!
Greg
I am Greg's sister Cathy, and what your sister/mom did was a great thing!
My family keeps growing. Cathy, you are part of this family too! I can't wait to visit the Boston area in Sept and October!
Hi Greg, I am Edie's brother Mike and want to thank you for being so open with your blog. Like my sister Jackie said tonight ...it completes the story for Edie, my five sisters and myself. We are all proud of Edie's effort to reach out and help someone as a donor and are so pleased to hear you are doing well. God Bless you and your Family and Prayers from My Family to You and Yours. Hope to see you when you make the trip to the North East. Mike
Greg my friend, you and I have been very lucky to have had a career where we have met some truly outstanding people. However, your new East Coast 'family' may just top the list in the 'Caring and compassionate' category. Edie, thanks for mailing back the Q-tips and allowing us more time with Greg. To the rest of you, get on the registry and be someone else's angel.
LiveSTRONG!
Mike and X- It's been quite a week I have to say. It's nice to virtually meet you Mike, five sisters huh? Thank you for your prayers. X- thanks for the reminder. I know several people including members of Edie's family have signed up for the bone marrow registry- for those who have not it can be found at www.marrow.org
Greg
From another sister Pat, we went through the process with Edie last year and are so excited to know who you are. We all went to Cape Cod last week on vacation and your name came up so you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
:-)
Reading this thread in particular makes me SMILE !!
Prayers
Pat, thank you for the very nice comments. Did you guys have a clambake? You have a great family that I am proud to join. Hank, now you know why I am so happy!
:)
Greg, no clambake last week but a clambake in the Sept/Oct timeframe sounds delightful ! Welcome to the family. We are so happy to put faces & names to those we have thought about so much over the past year.
P.S. - I've been singing this song all day :)
Christine, me too! Your family is wonderful, and close- mine is spread out. We get to go to the wedding of my niece Alicia this Wednesday in the Portland Or area. My dad from Utah, my brother and his wife from Nebraska, and my sister from Oregon will be together for a day or two anyway. I am getting hungry!
Wow, Edie told me to check the blog a short while ago, and it made me cry. Greg, Edie has an awesome family. They love to live, laugh, and have fun. I think I will vote for Chris to pull together that clambake because she throws one hell of a party. Positive energy goes a long way, be well and be strong, many hearts are pulling for you! Mary-Beth
Good afternoon Washington! Did I mention how enthusiastic my family & friends have been :) If you and Yvonne do make it out to visit - and we hope you do - there looks like a gathering just might happen! Again thank you for letting us view your life, meet your family, and friends.
Edie, and Mary-Beth; Thanks for your nice comments. Barring any strange medical issue, we have made tentative plans to be in the Boston area from Sept 20 through Oct 4. We haven't worked out all the details but want to meet the new family whenever it is good for you. Maybe do a little sightseeing too.
Edie and family, Thank you for supporting Greg and providing life saving bone marrow. What an inspiring story!
I am grateful for donors such as Edie who saved Greg's life and for the German man who was my son Tim's stem cell donor when he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and saved his life and as as a bonus, he was also cured of HIV.
Wow Greggers! Am completely awe-struck by the love that surrounds you---coast to coast, no less! How AMAZING!!! Am thrilled that you now have an extended family on the "other" coast and that you will be able to meet them in person later this year!!! How wonderful is that??!!! Keep on keeping on, and never stop smiling! Hugs! KKW
A little late on the posting but Greg's brother, Alan, and his wife, Mary send a big thank you to Edie and family for saving Greg's life and giving him more time with all of us. You sound like amazing folks. What great hope and inspiration you give us.
We'll keep you all in our thoughts and prayers, too.
Mary D. and Alan
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