Sorry-
I know I posted this in conversations. Don't know how it ended up here.

So sorry about your friend, polly. She's in my thoughts and prayers.

That's ok, Polly. The heartfelt concern for a friend negates sides of a forum. You have a kind heart and I'll keep your friend in my prayers. Bless you for thinking to ask us here! Please keep us updated on her progress, will you?
Lynn

I had a pretty rotten last 36 hours and was also disappointed that we didn't get any Christmas decorating done this weekend as planned. We got new floors (very good), but that started a landslide of other projects. While shopping for a rug, DHs leather jacket was stolen. My phone is dying, DS called from college and said his phone is dying and the laptop I loaned my brother while he is job searching and his died -- it died too. The only three things I wanted to order this weekend were all unavailable. I'm not loving cyber Monday -- it was not kind to me either.

BUT, the real reason I posted was to tell you that my cousin's DH is on the mend now from the same or similar procedure. He had a rough summer but finally got the stem cell transplant rescheduled (in Sept?) and is now out of the hospital and staying in an apartment near the medical center with hopes of being home for Christmas. He had chemo that I don't think really did much, then some infections that delayed things. It was a very trying -- and frightening time as the transplant prep began, but it sounds to me like everything has been pretty textbook since. It is a real turnaround once they know this is what they have to do, find a donor and can get to it.

My cousin was at MD Anderson. I only met the folks at the blood center where DH and DS gave white blood cells and platelets for him (I was not a good candidate), but I was so impressed with everything I saw and learned when I was down there with them. I found myself saying prayers for every friend and family member of someone I'd talked to and without names of faces -- just great people who cared about them and were able to come try to help them. The people working there were great too. I hope your friend has the same kind of experience with her transplant and that she is soon on the mend. It is very nerve wrecking until the transplant is done and you can see if it takes -- but my understanding is that it most often does. The hardest part can be getting ready and finding a donor.

Hugs to you and her family as everyone goes through this too.

Polly, your friend is very blessed to have you in her life. Her family, as well as yours, will be in my prayers. God bless. ;o)

Thinking positive thoughts for your friend. I hope it works, and she is soon celebrating a future of unmeasured time with her loved ones.

It is situations like this that remind us all of how fortunate we are, and how we can get caught up in the little things, and forget what really matters every day - our family and friends, our health, and creating a better world for generations to come.

I almost never visit this forum, but glad I did today! I will send out some private emails and get everyone praying!

Polly, I will prayer for your friend to have a full recovery. You're right; her young family needs her. It sounds like you are a wonderful friend to her and I'm sure that's comforting to her as she battles this.

I, too, get caught up in thinking I've got it rough, or had a bad day, and then upon hearing about something like this, it just makes you thankful for what you have...and for today, as each new day is a blessing and brings new possibilities.

Prayers for your friend and her family and all those that our dealing with such difficult issues.

I hope for the best for your friend! Also if I can urge evryone to go one the bone marrow donor. Seven years ago I was called as a match for a seven year old and I felt like I won the lottery. It is to this day the thing about myself that I am most proud of! It was so worth the pain and inconvence(I donated 3 weeks before my wedding). So I urge everyone to get on the donor list!
My positive thoughts and hopes are with your friend!

Opps sorry for typos, my six month old niece hit the submit on my tablet before I could edit, that should be "on the bone marrow donor list" again my best thoughts for you and your friend!

Polly (My mom's name!)

This might be off topic, but someone here might have the answer to this:

Can one donate stem sells? I've always felt it would be the right thing to do. I am also willing to be typed for kidneys, liver, and other things I have extra of. I'm an O-, so I already give that up.

I'm also praying for your friend and her family.

When I feel overwhelmed, God always reminds me it could be worse.

Stem cell donations are arranged thru the bone marrow donor org. It use to be part of red cross but it is on it's own now. Bone marrow are stem cells but now they are collected via the arms similar to collecting platelets but it takes many hours and five days of a drug called filagrastim which creates extra blood cells in the donor.

Thank you. I'll head over there.
Christine

will add your friend and her family to my prayer list. Our trivial everyday irritations do seem pretty small when we hear of someone facing this kind of thing. You are a good friend.

Have added your friend to my prayer list. I agree it's well to keep things in perspective. Practicing thankfulness is something I try to do daily no matter what negative things are happening in my life.

Will do Polly - you are a good friend.

tina

I will be praying for your friend too. She is blessed to have a caring friend like you.

I am saying a prayer right now for her...you are a wonderful friend!

I am overwhelmed by all of your kind words.

I hope the prayers are answered. She just needs to be here for many many more years. She is going through hell right now.

Thank you all.

Let's pray that she is here to enjoy her children for a very long time. I'll bet going forward, like you said, the little things will be just that...little things.

will do!

I just prayed for your friend.

So glad your kind-hearted post showed up here since I never check out the conversations side. I'm happy to include your friend in my prayers that God will wrap His arms around her and give her peace and healing in His time. I'm sure He's thrilled with all these prayers coming to Him for one of His children.

Polly, she is in the toughest part right now, so hell ii is. But if she has a donor, she has so much hope in front of her. Help her be brave.

For others, the stem cell/bone marrow donations are not as difficult as they used to be -- much less invasive. I learned that 90-95% of them are done through a process similar to the white blood cell donations,. At MD Anderson, they screen the donor and the last step is to give plateletes. That gives them a very valuable tool in fighting cancer for so many of their patients, but it also helps them make sure the person is a good donor candidate by having them hooked up to the machine for about 2 hours to separate the plateletes. If the donor passes all the screening a time is set up for the donation. The day before, they give medication to be taken the night before -- one pill and one injection. This stimulates the white blood cells. I was told a single injection is worth about $1500 and that is part of the platelete donation part of the screening. The next morning, you go through a process similar to the platelete donation but they take the white blood cells instead. For a stem cell harvest, they give several days of the medication before taking the donation and get a higher concentration.

The lady there told me only one or two types of cancer still require an aspiration of marrow through the hip. I got so excited by that that I was ready to sign up. Unfortunately, I am not a good candidate for the process, but it is not something to be afraid of. A bit of time in the process and several trips, but still a relatively easy way to save a life. I encourage those who can to donate what they can. Some of the families risk losing their loved ones because they are away from home and don't have family and friends to make enough donations. The white blood cells have a short life span so we had to drive an hour across town and couldn't make the donations at a center 5 miles from our house. Someone fighting for their life needs that hour more.

Polly, again, all my best. Be strong with and for her. Believe that there is hope and love ahead.

Done. I agree with others, friends like you are a blessing in times such as these. Thank you for reminding me to count my blessings. Ive been so overwhelmed with Thanksgiving and work and a houseful of guests staying the week, this is a wakeup call to not sweat the small stuff. I can only imagine the stress level of a parent going through this, I pray for some peace as well as healing for your friend.

lascatx-

Thank you for sharing your cousin's story.
And thank you all again for the prayers. I know she can really use them.

I say prayers for everyone in that situation whenever I am reminded of them. Like I said, I was only at the blood center and the families and friends all touched my life. It was scary at times, especially when he had a fungal infection that was not responding to antibiotics. His flesh was coming off and they didn't know what it was until the culture came back. Once they got the right stuff treating it, everything turned around. That was the infection that delayed his transplant, but as I said, he is nearly ready to return home now and was able to drive out for the day on Thanksgiving. It was great. I wish I could be there in person so you could see and feel the hope. I'll send all I can by angel wings.

Will do polly...what a wonderful friend you are. Things like flat tires and individual petty worries certainly take a back seat to true need. I hope you will keep us posted as to her progress. c

Have not posted in ages (daughter getting married soon) but wanted to let you know I am praying for your friend, and for you, as well. She is blessed to have you. Prayers being lifted up for all of you.

prayers....

Polly, I'm adding your friend to my prayers as well.

My mom was just diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma a few weeks ago and it threw me for a loop. We just found out that forutnately, it's Stage 1 and non-aggressive & they're very optimistic with (radiation)treatment.

Stay strong and optimistic...they're doing wonders now:)
When I think of my mom, I'll think of your friend and pray for her too:)

Praying now...

Saying a prayer. God bless!

prayers going up for your dear friend.