Can we change this now to the "PSC Bone Marrow Testing Thread"?

Just a thought...a good one at that....I think.

And HEY...I DON'T LIKE needles...at ALL...but...for Rey...why not.

National Marrow Donor Program

Funny, I only recently talked with Blue Lurker about bone marrow donation. Australia is far more proactive than the U.S. I signed up to get on the bone marrow donor list when I was in college. They took a small sample of blood, but I never heard from them again. I did hear some time ago that a bunch of old donor records got lost when they computerized. Yeah, I should have contacted them again then.

I doubt I should donate until after the baby is born, but you can add me to your list, ReyRey. Like Eve, I am A-, but that's only one part of tissue matching. I don't (yet) know nearly as much about bone marrow donating as what little I do know about organ donating. I would have given my husband a kidney years ago, but he is O-, and cross-type matching is still highly experimental and has much lower success rates. You can bet I have my donor card with me wherever I go! It's actually an optional part to have printed directly on the MA driver's license. We should have something as proactive and easy to sign-up-for for bone marrow donation.

P.S. We have already been starting to research donating the baby's cord blood into the public cord blood bank rather than storing it privately.

Thanks guys for your responses sofar, and I will change the title of this forum as Andy thought it up. Sounds good.

I'll get tested for you Rey (and all the others that need my marrow). Of course if I'm a match and you use my marrow you can expect roughly a 95% drop in talent and creativity levels.

Going to look for the US marrow registry now. UP UP AND AWAY!

Edit: Went and found this:


I knew about the blood test but the cheek swab is new info to me. Now I can see why your siblings won't get checked. Them swabs is dangerous to be around! {major sarcasm and a wee bit of contempt towards your siblings' behavior is intended}

And there's more!

I have considered this, but just never did it...

Being pregnant, and taking thyroid meds means I can't do it right now, but in the fall I may be able to.

Because you just never know who you can help.

I am A+ too, if that matters.

Thanks TutorMe, and others. Keep the information comming also from other places in the world. It may help others make up their mind.

Wont take my marrow lmao...I funny

I wrote an email to Liam McNeilis who updated things on Adrians blog. And I got a response from him just now.

This is what I wrote to Liam and Adrian,

Hi Liam,

I have written a forum thread on Baldy's Blog, on PSC
(Photoshopcontest.com) where myself and lots of people around the world are
showing off our photoshop skills.
http://photoshopcontest.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=9757 Here is the link to
the forum. It used to have the title "Baldy's Blog forwarded", but at the
suggestion of one of the other photoshoppers it has been changes to "PSC
Bone Marrow Testing Thread". Not without reason either. One of our most
skillfull community members, who goes by the name ReyRey, knows all about
cancer from personal experiance. And, as he has been telling us, is still
looking for somebody with matching bone marrow himself. He wrote on the
thread:

"I can't read his blog. It is hitting too close to home and it's getting me
all stressed out, although he should be proud of himself,and I hope his
family will be ok. Crying or Very sadI still can't get my own family to go
in and get tested to see if they are a match for me. My brother finally
did. It only took him a year. My sister still has not. I think if they gave
me her bone marrow I would be instantly stoned. ShockedFor people that
don't know. Just getting tested is easy. They do it with blood now. No bone
marrow taps, which hurt like hell. Just getting the test would put someone
at ease knowing that if they need a transplant, there is a match out there
and some hope on the horizon. Wink
DO IT!!!!! PLEASE!!! Very Happy"

And, it sparked others to go and have a think about getting tested! Since
we at PSC are a worldwide community, Adrians Blog will spread its message
further in all directions. Will you thank Adrian for his courage and extend
my best wishes for the time to come. And you as well Liam, taking all this
on, quite a legacy I would say, may the force be with you, as they say! I
will keep the forum thread alive on PSC, you can be sure of that.

Love and hugs,

Anna (Annajon on PSC)

And this is the answer I got from Liam,

Hello Anna

Thank you for you kind words, I'll make sure that Adrian reads through the
topic you have created. Its fantastic that you are able to help us get
some worldwide coverage. Please pass on are warmest wishes to the member
ReyRey. I really hope that he finds a donor and we succeed in raising
awareness of just how easy it is to donate Bone Marrow.

Thank you very much for your help
Best wishes to you and all your fellow members of Photoshopcontests

Liam Mc Neilis
Trinity Mirror Digital Media

So, there you have it, people. Keep the responses comming.

bump

I'm a O-

Someone wants my blood?

Yep, O- is the universal donor Tesore. That is needed most of all, because it can be used straight, on most people, and specially in emergencies and operations.

And when you become a blooddonor you can enter your name on the bone marrow list as well, as long as you are within the age bracket.

PS, you can take my spot. I am too old for bone marrow donor. And at the moment I am not able to donate blood either.

The same here (anaemia)! But sometimes... when it’s urgent... they call me from the hospital (once in the 3-4 years), just to help a new born. Mostly a problem with the Rhesus factor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type
They have new stuff that works very well… but sometimes they need fresh blood (emergency aid and a question of time and lack of stock). I go... of course!
Mostly in the middle of the night… what’s wrong with born on the middle of the day?
It’s my small repayment for my beautiful healthy kids.
I lost dear friends of cancer, so this is nothing! My oldest friend is suffering from cancer for almost 10 years now. He was my neighbour boy when I was born and we are friends from that day. If he rings me, he always says: do you com play outside?
I love him.

I just learned that a friend of mine from another internet message board is having real difficulties. Her son is 5 and has been battling Devic's disease. It is really dibilitating him, causing severe pain, nearly total blindness....

They are considering a bone marrow transplant for him in the very near future as well.

A five year old should be full of life and vibrancy, not pain and darkness. I wish I could donate this second and match up with someone. This is something I am definately adding to my "to do" list after baby is born.

Such a simple process, I don't know why we don't hear about it more often.