Be The Match Bone Marrow Donation

My donation is done, and the stem cells have been sent on their way.  I am hoping that the cells have reached their destination and the recipient has received her transfusion.  Unfortunately, as I mentioned before I won't know anything for at least 30 days and it will be at least a year before I know her status.

I'm still a little sore today, specifically my knees ache.  Not from the donation but from the medicine that remains in my system.  As far as the donation sites in my arms, I can't even tell where the needles were.  The nurse that put the needle (blood out of my left arm) and catheter (blood back in in my right wrist) was awesome.  He did a really good job that at first I wasn't even aware that he had even stuck me.

During the donation, I was talking to the nurse and he mentioned that when he first started doing this in 2001 he could count the number of donors that came in a month on one hand.  Now he says there are 4 or 5 donors a week.  He also mentioned that when they first started taking the donations they were not necessarily as nice to the donors as they should have been.  As the science has progressed and these organizations have started to recognize the benefits of taking the donations in this manner (through the blood draw) they have also started to really pamper the donors as much as possible.  I would have to agree with his statement because while I may have been achy and sore, anytime yesterday during the donation I asked for anything there was at least three people willing to get it for me.

We were also entertained by the day 1 resident that was in the lab observing.  This future doctor kid was awkward at best.  He kept asking the patients that came in, "So what are you in for?"  I was waiting for one of the old guys to tell him "I just wandered in to see what you were doing."  At one point this doctor was asking a patient what exactly the symptoms were to his cancer.  The patient looked at this kid like his was crazy and A and I couldn't help but laugh.  When the patient finished telling him, the kid looked at the guy and said "Tell me how you say the name of your cancer again."  I wish I could have taken a picture of this guy's face because it was priceless.  Confusion and worry.

Well like I said, I'm done!  I did my best to add some positive thoughts to my donation because I'm sure this lady could use all of the help she can get.  Where ever, who ever you are, I'm rooting for you!

Now only time can tell.

Have you signed up yet?  You should.  You never know who you could be helping.  It could end up being someone you actually know.  It could even be a kid that turns out to be the greatest president we've ever seen or someone that decides to create flying cars.  Be The Match.

www.marrow.org

Bone Marrow Donation: Day 5 Injections & Donation

And so it begins.  We got to the hospital about 8a and by about 9:30a I had received the last round of shots, talked to the doctor again and am hooked up to the aphoresis machine.  I hope I used that right, but if not, I'm talking about the blood draw machine.

They say I'll be here for a minimum of 4 hours, and while I don't mind I already feel bad for A because what is she supposed to do?  Sit here and stare at me?  Well that's what she is doing and it's kinda creepy.

Everyone that has been involved in this process has been great, seriously.  Anytime I've needed anything or had a problem, they have been right on it.  If you haven't signed up yet to be a donor yet, I'm not sure what you are waiting for.  They (Be The Match) go to great lengths to take care of you so that you can help take care of someone else.

Bone Marrow Donation: Day 4 Injections

I had just had my last injections before the procedure tomorrow!!!  I'm excited!  I'm excited to be helping this lady, where ever she is, and I am excited to be done taking these shots!  The shots this morning kinda burned going in.

The nurse that has been coming to give me the shots was asking how was feeling this morning and I told her  I felt fine, surprisingly.  The only thing is, is that I am aware of my spleen or rather I am aware of pressure in the area of my spleen.  I agree, that is an unusual statement.  Apparently though, for all of us that are not nurses or doctors, the spleen serves a vital role in helping to remove old red blood cells and can swell while taking filgrastim.  The medicine that they have been injecting into me to increase the red cells.

Well when I mentioned it to the nurse, she immediately had me call the Be The Match coordinator who called the doctor and the doctor called me back all in less than 5 minutes.  Even if you are related to the doctor, have you ever had a doctor call you back that quick?

So we have to stop by the hospital on our way into Houston this evening, but before you worry, I'm fine.


The most difficult part of this has been judging pains.  On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being unbearable), I'd say 5 at the worst.  If I did feel 'pain,' it was a rolling pain, it would hurt for a second and then it would pass just as quickly.  For the most part I would call the "pains" an ache ... or family.  

I think have a high threshold for pain, and if you ever met my family you'd agree; as far as the aches I've felt, they are really no different than waking up mornings and realizing that you didn't move all night long.  Add to that the fact that I am no longer a spring chicken, not yet old but definitely not as young as I used to be.  You learn to deal with the pains.  They are after all stuck with me too (I'm just kidding, I love my family).

My part in all of this is almost done.  I really appreciate all of the support that I have gotten during all of this.  You all make this easier to do just knowing that you care enough to check in.  So THANK YOU!

Don't tell my wife I said this but I think that she was right.  It will be about a year before we find out how she is doing, so if she survives the Zombie Apocalypse we will know about this time next year.  To find out more about the apocalypse you should go check out Breann at Life and Love of a Parrothead.

Bone Marrow Donation: Day 3 Injections

I've never been so tired and restless at the same time.  My bones ache.  My muscles ache.  I kinda feel like my skin is full, like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man without the cool outfit.  I totally agree., me and that outfit together are a scary thought.

When I am up and moving around I feel better but the muscles in my back start aching and I have to sit back down.  The longer I sit though the stiffer my muscles get and I have to get back up and stretch.  So it's a conundrum.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in pain.  This doesn't "hurt."  I just can't get comfortable right now.

After my shot yesterday, I took a nap and when I woke up my body was so stiff that I had to sit there for about 10 minutes before could get up.  On the other hand, when I woke up this morning I felt fine.

The nurse has already been by today to give me my shot so I'm achy again.

Only 2 more days for me though.  I get another shot tomorrow (Wednesday) and then we head down to Houston to check into the hotel (courtesy of Be The Match) and the procedure will take place Thursday morning.  I'm told that it will be a minimum of four hours attached to the machines and up to eight hours.  Personally, I'm hoping for four.

Geaux Tide? Roll Tigers?
During last night's BCS championship game, I spent half of the time up and walking around and it was not because of nerves.  I really thought LSU would have a better game but outside of that I didn't really care who won.  I just kept thinking that whomever won, either way the Aggies are going up against the BCS Nation Champs during their first season in the SEC.  That's a steep hill no matter who you are.

All I have to say is, WHOOOOP!!! GiG'eM Ags!!!

*On a funny side note here.  Texas A&M is telling Tim Tebow and the Broncos that the "12th Man" is trademarked and that they are not allowed to use it without permission.  Click here for the story.

Be careful Ags.  Tebow has friends in high places 

Bone Marrow Donation: Day 2 Injections

Just got the second injections, and if you ever decide or are chosen to do this, ask that the medicine is not fresh out of the refrigerator.  The cold filgrastim burns a little more than at room temperature going in, but I am told that this medicine is a couple hundred dollars an injection and needs to be kept refrigerated.

I'm achy but not in pain.  It feels like a combination of growing pains and the onset of a cold or flu.  I considered describing it as feeling like you've been hit by a car or been in a car accident, but I didn't want to give A (aka The Wife) any ideas.  Besides, the last time that I was in an accident (knock on wood) my best-friend Bert decided to take us for a spin, literally, down I35 during rush hour.  I came out of that one sporting a nice big raspberry on my forehead. 

The wife keeps trying to get me to take a pain reliever, but as I told her, I can handle it right now but may be inclined later.  She however is not convinced and has decided to take her job as my care-taker very seriously.

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It's been a couple hours now since the I got the second shot and while I'm still achy the worst part is waking up after having laid still for so long.  It took a couple of minutes to get past the fight that my muscles and bones put up.  Every part of my body is sore especially my joints and lower back.

Like I said before though, I can handle a week with an achy body as opposed to what this lady with Leukemia has had to endure.  On a side note from that, I did learn that this lady that I am helping is not in Texas and where ever she is takes a "couple of planes" to get to.  I think I find out where she is after 30 days.  The wife seems to think it is after 90 days.  I guess time will tell.

Bone Marrow Donation: Day 1 Injections

I got the first injections today, Sunday, January 8th, to donate Bone Marrow on Thursday.  We had to drive down to Houston, Pearland to be exact, so that I could meet with the coordinator and they could ensure that I didn't have a reaction to the first dose.

I should probably explain.  I'm being given filgrastim once a day for five days to increase the number of red blood cells in my body.  Doses 2,3, and 4 will be given to me here in College Station by a nurse recently retired from this program.  On the fifth day, the day of the donation, I have to be at the hospital at about 8am and will get the 5th and final shot.

I'm told that the side effects include achy muscles and bones, like the onset of the flu.  While I'm not in pain (yet) I am already starting to feel the effects.  Thankfully I'm only going to feel like this for a week, but the lady who needs the donation hasn't felt good for awhile.  I think I'll keep mine.

Another plus of all of this is that my beautiful, caring, thoughtful wife has agreed to take care of me and I'm not sure she knows what she is in for.  Since she and I have been together, I can't remember being sick very often.  And no way am I grumpy when I'm sick ;)

I've also been forced to agreed to try to behave, but as I've told my loving wife I've tried before and I'm not very good at being good.

Maybe I'll be able to keep up with the blog this week, since I don't think I'm going to be doing much else.  I basically have an excuse to lay around the house.  WAHOO!!!!

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Bone Marrow Donor, you can click on the picture or this link.  Be The Match

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On a school note:

I got my books ordered for the Spring semester.  I did pretty good, spending less than $100 for three classes.  I have to purchase access to a web program that is going to cost me about $130 still, but seriously 4 classes and less than $300.  There have been some semesters that I paid nearly as much for books as I did to take the classes themselves.

I'm ready to be back. I'm almost ready to go back.  One more week should be enough to push me over the edge and send me running back!

Bone Marrow Donation

I was recently informed that I was a match for a 74 year-old woman with leukemia in need of a marrow transplant.  It's a huge honor, but I'm confused why people keep acting like I'm doing something extraordinary. I agree that it's a good deed but if you found out that you could save someone's life, wouldn't you do it?

Its not like they are not going to have to drill into my hip or cut my leg off, so why not?  I'm going to be given a medicine for 5 days that increases my red blood cells and on the 5th day they take out the cells the same way they take plasma or blood.**

As a matter of fact if you are interested in getting signed-up, here is the link.  Be The Match

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So after I found out that I was matched to someone in need of a marrow transplant I was asked to go by the local blood bank for additional tests, which consisted of a couple of tubes of blood being drawn.

A week or so later I was told that the recipient and I were a good match and asked to drive down to Houston for a physical and more blood tests.

So Amanda and I drove down to south Houston to start the process for the bone marrow donation.  We met with a woman at the blood bank that took a couple of blood samples and showed a brief video describing the process that is in store for me and while I am not being paid for this donation, I will not be out any money for the process.  (I'm being reimbursed for travel, food, and lodging as needed.)

After the blood bank, we were sent over to the hospital for the rest of the physical which included a UA, an EKG, and a chest x-ray.  All in all, the whole process only took about 3 hours and it didn't feel like we were there that long.  Everyone involved was really nice and anytime we needed or asked for anything that were right on it.

Now I just have to wait until January 8th to start the medicine and the donation will take place on the 12th.


**The side effects of the medicine include flu like symptoms (headaches, body aches, nausea) and they said that those effects wear off after a week or so.