Bone Marrow

Six days ago, on May 12th, I went to Berkeley to donate my bone marrow. 900 cc's of it (approx 1 quart/1liter). It quite the emotional experience to say the least.

1st: It was emotional because of why I am in the Nation Bone Marrow Donor Registry. You see I had a cousin named Kelly Grubb who was born about the same time as my sister Cait (1988).

When Kelly was 7 she was diagnosed with childhood leukemia. 5 years after chemo and remission the leukemia returned (which is a really mad sign). When the battle with chemo began to fail the doctors turned to a new procedure called a bone marrow transplant. But it's hard to find a match. And 10% of recipients are killed if the transplanted marrow rejects them as a host. They found a donor for Kelly, some guy from Germany.

And Kelly survived.

But Kelly lost 5 years later at the age of 18.

2nd: It was hard because as with any surgery there are risks. Risks of death from anesthesia, risks for infection, risks of human errors. It sounds stupid to have been scared of such risks, but I have to be honest that I was scared.

Also even if everything goes according to plan (which it did) the surgery is still very painful (I guess your body gets angry when you take its bone marrow). On this side of it I can say that for me the pain is comparable to the pain/stiffness/soreness from falling on your butt on icy ground. It's a pretty intense dull ache that only twinges of pain when you bend/twist at your hip (which is more often than you'd guess). For now I'm just fatigued. But going into the surgery the unknown/anticipation was really hard.

3rd: For some 55 year-old woman, somewhere in the world, I was her best shot at life. Her only shot. I know that I was the only match because I am not an ideal bone marrow donor. I have a mild autoimmune disorder, a family history of autoimmune disorders, and allergies; all of which have been transfered to this woman because from now on my bone marrow with my DNA in her will create her immune system with all my flaws. I honestly hope she doesn't like cats because I'm really allergic to cats and she is now too.

But she is only 55. She could easily live another 30-40 years with my marrow. 30-40 years! That's a long time. There is also the impact this will have on not just this lady but her friends and family. I really have no idea how much this will impact so many people.

4th: There is about a 10% chance that my bone marrow will kill this woman within the next 100 days. If not, then my marrow will save her life. Life and death all in a quart of my marrow.

I did it for Kelly.

I did it because I want to be like the guy from Germany who gave my cousin five more years of life.

I did it more because honestly Jesus bled, and suffered, and died to save my life. My suffering doesn't even compare.

And I could do it because I was not alone going into that operating room. The fact that God is faithful got me through this. The community praying for me also was of great support.

Now to rest, and wait, and pray. I get my first update on the woman after a month. After a year if we both consent I can begin communicating with the woman. Needless to say I'm pretty invested in her recovery.