Bone Marrow Registry

DO IT!

Last week, my friend McKenna was diagnosed with CML- Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia.  The bloody "L" word.  How I hate it.  I hate that McKenna has to experience this, has to fight this, has to fight it forever.  She is such a beautiful, warm-hearted, giving, loving, etc. woman- wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend...my heart was crushed to learn of her diagnosis and to feel seemingly helpless since she lives in Texas.  All I can do is pray and ask you to pray for her, her husband DJ, and her children as they all tackle this battle together. 

Actually, there is one other thing that I can ask of you.  You can register to be a bone marrow donor.  The process is simple and free.  Click here and register TODAY.

I can't remember if I have ever told this story here, but I will repeat it because I feel that it is highly relevant. 

When Ethan was undergoing leukemia treatment, both Scott and I joined the National Marrow Donor Program.  While Ethan's leukemia never required him to have a transplant, we saw children everyday that were waiting for a donor for their transplant.  We could not just sit back and watch these children wait and wait without trying to do our part.

A couple of years passed by when I got a phone call from the donor program asking me if I still wanted to be a donor.  I about jumped out of my seat with an excited, "YES!"  Turned out that I was a SIX FOR SIX match for a gentleman in South Carolina with lymphoma. 

I was actually off work that day, but had them fax me the paperwork to my office and I filled everything out the same day.  Even though the nurses that signed me up on the registry said that my rheumatoid arthritis would NOT prohibit me from being a donor, and even though there was no mention of it on my medical forms, I volunteered the information.  The processor had to get clearance for me from the medical director.  I waited for a call.  I anxiously waited for that call to say we were good to go.  But, that didn't happen...

"Unfortunately, Mrs. Faulkner, due to your rheumatoid arthritis you will not be able to ever donate bone marrow.  We are sorry."

I cried and cried and cried.  This man waited and waited for a match for his transplant and I was it.  Hope was on the horizon for him and then it was lost...all because of this stupid RA that has robbed me of so much.

I have no idea if that man was matched with someone else.  I have no idea if he was able to have his transplant.  I just know that I felt like I let that man down.  This is also another reason why I give blood and platelets so much. 

Peoples lives out there depend upon strangers who are willing to go through a simple process to save a life.  Please don't make the mistake of thinking you can wait until you are directly affected by leukemia/lymphoma before registering.  YOU could be the match that someone is waiting for!

 DO IT!