#GBE2: First Steps

It's not a first step for me, or for anyone I know, but it is for a stranger with Myelodysplastic Disorder. This means the cells in her bone marrow are damaged and cannot produce new blood cells. Some of the cells that are produced are not normal, so the body destroys these. This disease often leads to leukemia and can be fatal; however, with a matching donor, stem cells may be added to her blood stream thus allowing her doctors and God to repair her body, so she may produce new blood cells on her own.

The first steps started with my husband who underwent an extensive physical and then took two shots a day, every day for five days. The shots filtered stem cells from his bone marrow to his blood stream. He could actually feel the stem cells moving and developed aches in his back which led to trouble sleeping. 

Today was the big day. Mitchell spent four hours hooked up to a machine that removed stem cells from his blood and then placed the blood back into his body with an added saline solution. 

The procedure was a success with the collection removing double the stem cells needed. This means that they might be able to freeze the stem cells for later use.

Mitchell is already feeling a little better and will be home tomorrow. Thank goodness my husband was willing to take the first steps to help a stranger fight cancer.

Musical Monday: Hero

As mentioned last week, Thursday is the day of my husband's stem cell donation, where he will be saving a stranger's life. Here's a song dedicated to him.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Colonoscopy

My big bother sent me a detailed report of the extensive cancer in our family. He wants to have my mother's cancerous remains genetically tested to see if she had the "cancer gene" and may have possibly passed it down to us. Although I see a lot of value in this, it's a scary proposition. After all, the infamous they says, "Ignorance is bliss."

Not that any of us have ever enjoyed blissful ignorance in our family. I have always visited my doctor and suffered through medical tests at the recommended times. The problem, the typical five year span for a colonoscopy may not be enough. If we exhibit this gene, we should be tested every year.

For those who have not had the pleasure of a colonoscopy, let me enlighten you. First, one must restrain from eating solids while drinking chalk and visiting the toilet to expel more manure than anyone thought the human body could hold. Next, one's dehydrated body is wheeled to the hospital to have a needle inserted into a flat vein. It's nighty night while a doctor inserts a scope through the anus in search of polyps. These bugabears are instantly clipped and tested for cancer.

Luckily, I have been polyp free after each test but am also under fifty. In our family, the fun begins as we age.

So in conclusion, my big bother wants me to go through this delightful test more frequently . . . and why does he want this? Because he loves me. Colon cancer is one of the most easily preventable diseases; however, many fail to have the necessary test. If you are over fifty or have a family history, get moving to your doctor for some probe fun.