Several years ago, I was made aware of a family whose precious little baby was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 8 weeks. They moved to Memphis and were patients of St. Jude's for over a year. During this year, we prayed, raised awareness, and had a bone marrow search drive.
I was so hopeful about the drive.
I think this family and all the supporters across the nation added over 10,000 donors to the official Bone Marrow Registry list. None of them were even close matches.
Their baby boy lost his battle shortly after his first birthday.
Since that encounter, I have been aching to be the match for someone.
I donate blood (when I'm not pregnant) but people don't die because they can't find a blood donor...
Did you know that less than 40% of the population is eligible to donate blood? And of that number, only about 5% of them donate?
I would donate an organ to anyone who asked, especially a family member.
But today, I was contacted by the National Bone Marrow Registry as a possible match for a patient. I was so excited, hopeful, anxious...then it hit me. I'm pregnant! No doctor would take that kind of a risk on a pregnant woman and her baby! Even to save someone else. I told the person on the phone how far along I was, she very kindly talked me into putting myself into "unavailable" status...I felt horrible. I asked her what would happen if of the other preliminary matches, I turned out to be the closest. She said the patient would probably pursue another form of treatment, and if that didn't work, might return to the registry to try and find another match. Maybe months down the road.
What if it were me? My husband? My parent? That desperatly needed fresh bone marrow? But the match was just out of reach. Please join me in praying for this family and the doctors making decisions for them. I am so willing to help, just crushed that I'm not able.
The good news is, I have 30 more eligible years on the registry, so who knows.
If you would like to join the registry, it's totally free and simple. Go here:
You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire, then a kit will mailed to your house for you to swab your cheek with. No needles! (of course if you are a match...big needles....)
If you are between the ages of 18 and 61, please consider joining today!!
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