Step 1 – Go to http://marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx
Step 2 – You can register online through the website. At the bottom of the website there are 4
“qualification” questions to make sure that you eligible to register. They want to make sure you are 1) in good
health, 2) understand the commitment, 3) and live in the US. For anyone who is not sure if they would
qualify due to medical issues, here is a link http://marrow.org/Join/Medical_Guidelines/Medical_Guidelines_for_Joining_the_Registry.aspx
that answers most questions about health related issues and whether or not you
are eligible to be a donor. The other
important link to view is http://marrow.org/Join/Your_Commitment.aspx which outlines the responsibilities of being
a donor and what it entails. (Remember,
if you register to be a donor you are then listed on the national registry… you
might not be my match but you could absolutely be someone else’s match and save
their life!)
Step 3 – One you’ve looked through everything and want to
move forward you check all the boxes and it will take you to the “Online
Registration Form”. It will walk you
through the online registration (race/ethnicity questions, health “clearance”
questions, contact information, etc).
After that it will step you through requesting a testing kit
online. The kit is a simple cheek swab
and they will mail it to you at home, you follow the directions and mail it
back to them per the instructions in the kit.
Easy Peasy! J
Here’s a link to Frequently Asked Questions about bone
marrow donation: http://marrow.org/Join/FAQs_about_Joining.aspx
or if you still have questions you can call them at 1-800-MARROW2
(800-627-7692).
Dr. Liel came in after rounds this morning and said the plan
is still to discharge home tomorrow after a dose of chemotherapy (pending good
counts and no fevers which I am referring to as “no whammies”). I am SO excited to bust outta this joint and
am keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that everything goes according to
plan. If so, I’ll get to be home for a week
before I readmit to the hospital for another round chemotherapy (probably a
week long hospitalization). In
preparation for discharge tomorrow my nurse taught me how to “flush” my central
line today. It is kind of intimidating
(but totally doable) and I’m glad my mom was here to watch & take notes so
that when I do it at home next week (3 times per day) we have another person’s
knowledge. The doc said they could send
a home healthcare nurse to our house to do it for me. For those of you who know me well, you know
how independent I like to be and this is one of those things that I want to
know how to do myself. J This is my opportunity to play “medical
professional” since I took a detour in college and changed majors from pre-med
to psych J In addition to flushing my central line I’ll
also learn how to give myself injections (to help boost white blood cell
production) and I’ll be getting myself a fancy pill box to make sure I take all
my medications accurately. Just keeping
on top of my meds, injections, appointments, central line care, etc. is gonna
be like having a full-time job!
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