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What’s going on in my world? ย
Oooh the usual… just swabbing my cheeks, barcodingย the samples, labeling them a biohazard, shoving them in an envelope and leaving them for the postman. ย That’s normal… I do this nearly everyday.
I’m swabbing because I just put myself on the Be The Match list with the National Marrow Donation Program. ย The National Marrow Donation Program houses a giant list and genetic samples of possible donors… a list about 12 million people long. ย Dang! ย Doctors look for genetic matches for patients that suffer from life threatening illnesses like leukemia and lymphoma. ย Sometimes doctors and patients find a genetic match among the millions on the list… sometimes they don’t. ย
If I’m a match, some doctors will come to knock me out and take bone marrow from my lower back. ย Someone gets my good bone marrow and I grow my own bone marrow back. ย Success! ย I decided to become a part of the National Marrow Donation Program because I feel blessed enough to be strong and healthy, and would be more than happy to share that health with someone else. ย
It’s a bit commitment … one that I considered for months before signing up. ย See, there’s needles… and many hours of prep and testing before the actual donation begins. ย And… needles. ย
I’mย not telling you about the National Marrow Donation Program because I want you to rush out and sign up. ย It was the right choice for me… but it might not be for everyone. ย But… if you think marrow donation might be right up your alley, well then heck! ย Get on it! ย I just wanted to share. ย Now you know what I’m up to when I’m not in the kitchen making cookie dough, or avoiding dishes, or snacking, or drinking wine, or being otherwise silly and unproductive. ย
Now you know.ย
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68 Responses
thanks for talking about the national marrow donation program. i’ve been signed up as a donor for years and it’s nice to hear it promoted! don’t forget to keep your account updated as you move around, fyi.
my friend’s sister’s life was saved by a donation from a stranger. it’s an amazing thing.
Joy, that is so awesome!! My Mom died from lymphoma 6 years ago this month and I am on board with anything that can be done to support finding a cure & hope for people with these kinds of cancers. I have thought myself of looking into doing the bone marrow donation but haven’t done anything about it….thanks for getting me started pushing me in the right direction =)
Hi Joy,
If anyone is interested in signing up, go to http://www.bethematch.org to find out how. You can sign up on line and have a kit sent to you or you can find a bone marrow drive in your area. You can even arrange to have a drive yourself, at your place of business, church or civic group, school or just with a large group of family and friends.
Hi, Joy…
What a wonderful gift you’re giving. As a 3-year survivor of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, I’ve been lucky not to have to receive a bone marrow transplant, but that’s the next step if my cancer recurs. So knowing that there are people out there like you really warms my heart. It makes me wonder if I’d ever be able to make that same donation, maybe after I hit my 5-year survivorship mark? Again, thanks for your generosity.
Hi Joy! I joined the registry about 2 years ago and just a couple months ago I received a FedEx package from Be the Match telling me I was a potential match for a patient! Trepidation followed, but I had signed up knowing that I could potentially help someone so I moved forward with the additional testing (just several vials of blood drawn…no big deal). Based on a letter I received two weeks ago, I am either not a good tissue match or the patient no longer needs the donation. I have to admit, I was a little sad because I was kind of excited about helping someone! So, it may be a one in a million shot, but you could save someone’s life. Sign up, everyone!
Wow!! I love you even more now! My boyfriend donated bone marrow about a year ago after being on the list for about a year. He didn’t get knocked out for his donation as you mentioned you will be.. he had shots for 5 days and then pherisis (sp?) on that 5th day…
He knew about the bone marrow donation program through work since he’s an oncologist, but i never would have even known about it if it weren’t for him. So it is wonderful that you’re promoting it!
It is especially important for minorities to get on the list! He is Indian and that is why he likely matched so quickly..
Good for you! I should also mention that there is a serious shortage of donors of Asian ethnicities- as well as other minority populations, so if that applies for you, then the need is even greater for you to be a donor. And even if it doesn’t apply, then they still need you, so don’t worry, just do it. :)
That is so awesome of you to be doing it. I really dislike needles though otherwise I would sign up. It feels nice to be able to save a life.
you’re awesome! in the kitchen and out!!!
You are a true hero! I love your website,and now I will admire you for your involvement in the bone marrow program! Joy you are a sweetheart.The world is a better place because of people like you!
Thank you for reminding me to update my address with the Donor Registry! And good for you for signing up. I can’t help but think, if my child needed a transplant I’d sure hope someone who was a match had signed up. I hope to be that person for someone else’s child someday.
Allright, you inspired me to send away for my own testing kit. You ROCK! Can I make a recipe suggestion? My mother’s favorite thing to give her siblings at christmas are homemade cookies and fudge. Sad part is, every one of them has type 2 diabetes. She always made cookies, because she couldn’t afford gifts most years, so now it’s a cherished holiday tradition, but none of them should be eating them. SO, is it even possible to make walnut fudge that is type 2 diabetic friendly? Just curious. You work miracles, if there is a way, I know you’ll have the answer! Thanks!
Thank you for your willingness to donate! My husband had CML 3 years ago and had a bone marrow transplant. He is cancer free and I am so grateful for his donor who happened to be his sister. We feel so blessed. I am grateful for people like you! I hope you inspire others to be a donor. There are so many people who need a transplant and can’t find the right donor. I love your website! It brings “Joy” to my everyday life!
thank you for this entry. it was the encouragement I needed to finally decide to register. Love the blog!
Thank you for posting this! I have signed up and have a kit coming to my house in 1 week. If I save a life, it’s you saving a life too! Thank you for an incredible blog, a full belly, and helping me know how to make a difference.
Just wanted to say, years later thinking of this post inspired me to sign up. My husband wants to sign up too. So, thank you!