URGENT: Please help save my cousin's life

[armstrong]

My cousin Christine in the US is battling cancer, and urgently needs to find a bone marrow donor. Unfortunately, finding a perfect match for her bone marrow type is particularly difficult. This is hard enough for the average person; there are over 20,000 types of bone marrow, so the average person has a 1 in 20,000 chance of finding a match. These numbers are even worse for Christine. Because she is Filipino, she needs to find a donor of the same ethnic background, and there are hardly any Filipinos on the US National Registry.

Right now is our best chance of having the Bone Marrow Transplant work. Each day's delay decreases her chances of surviving. Please contact your Filipino friends or relatives in the US, and ask them to contact their friends. Anyone you know who is all or part Filipino and between the ages of 18 and 61 is a potential donor. The system is nationwide, so it doesn't matter where they live. Signing up on the registry is easy and painless. All it requires is a simple blood test. Some hospitals charge a small fee for this blood test, however the fee is routinely waived for minorities, and often for Caucasians as well, especially if you are willing to donate a pint of blood.

You can find a registration center by selecting your state on the map on this website. These centers can refer you to bone marrow drives in your community.

http://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/map.pl?ctr_typ=DC

There is also a wonderful organization in Los Angeles that arranges free registration for Filipino donors.

www.asianmarrow.org

If you have trouble finding a site in your area, have any trouble finding a place to donate for free, or have additional questions, you can reach Christine's boyfriend Jacob at this email address:

info [at] christine.site.ph

You can reassure your friends that signing up for the registry does not require donating any bone marrow. If it turns out they are a match, they will be contacted, and can make the decision at that point about becoming a donor.

There are lots of misconceptions about donating bone marrow. The procedure is considered minor, simple and safe. You will be anesthetized the whole time, so you will not feel anything. When the procedure is over, you may have some soreness in the area for a day or two and you may feel a little tired. That's it. The bone marrowyou donate is replenished within 3-4 weeks. And again, you will only undergo this procedure if your blood sample shows that you are a match and you decide to donate, in which case the slight soreness you'll be feeling will be saving someone's life.

All medical expenses for the donor will be covered by Christine's insurance.

You can find out more about the registry and the donation procedure at this website:

www.marrow.org

Thank you!

Apollo a.k.a. "armstrong" :hearts:

 

[FruitFish]

Hope all is well. Good luck and keep your head up!

 

[B33R]

October 17th 2006.
The greatest news of all - Christine is CANCER-FREE!!! :tu:

There's still a way to go but at least the cancer is gone! Way to go Christine!!!

Dear everyone--

I was lucky enough to see Christine yesterday (Monday) afternoon. I wasn't visiting exactly; she's still too weak for visitors. But I was there to kind of accompany her to a few appointments, wash a few dishes, etc.

She had a PET scan before I arrived and while I was there she had some blood work drawn. Most of the time was spent waiting in various halls to hear about the results of these tests. Mainly we talked and caught up. While she seemed in good spirits, it was clear she was tired and still wiped out from her recent illness.

Finally we got called in and Dr. Nademanee, her doctor, appeared. We were in a small room, which Christine said was the room where she got all of her news—good and bad. She was waiting to hear about 2 things: if the PET scan showed any cancer in her body and whether her blood counts were still really low (which would mean she'd have to have an infusion).

On both counts, Christine got GREAT news. First of all, the PET scan showed that she is cancer-free. Cancer-free! This was the only time I saw Christine kind of break down. She was so relieved and happy. I didn't realize it but had the PET scan showed any cancer at all, it would have meant Christine had only months to live. My understanding is that out of all the people who have had transplantss and lived on, none had cancer at Day 100. All the ones who did simply didn't survive.

This means that Christine still has a fighting chance. This girl is a walking miracle.

The other happy news was that her blood counts went up. I think they're still not great, but they were good enough that she was able to go back to the village instead of having to stay and have infusions. So we took a little tram back from the hospital to the village and celebrated Christine's victory with ice cream.

Christine was still feeling so wiped out that she didn't have the energy to email. So I hope I'm doing her justice with this account. I don't know how to convey how much emotion there was when she found out there was no cancer in her. She's still not out of the woods yet--next week, she'll take another important test which will determine if the graft is producing enough blood cells. But I can't imagine anything beating her, I really can't.

So keep praying, everyone! And let's focus it on that graft producing lots and lots of healthy blood cells. And a big thank you to everyone on Christine's behalf.

 

[Sabre]

That's wonderful news for Christine and her family

I'll bet they're overjoyed at the news!
Although she still has a way to go to make a full recovery, she appears to have the determination to overcome all obstacles, this is the news we've all been waiting for :tu:

 

[Billy!]

Thats bloody fantastic! Its amazing news! Well done Christine and everyone who thought about her and prayed for her!

 

[RJ]

Awesome!!

 

[Kenny]

Too Tuff Lady...

Thanks to everyone who took a moment to add her to their thoughts.

Keep fighting the good fight Christine.

 

[Rudy]

This is GREAT News!!! I must admit, taking 18 hours this semester, I haven't been able to follow much going on - either on the website for her, or anything in this forum for that matter. (I'm on fall break right now).

I'm so happy to hear that she's cancer-free!

That's the results of LOTS of support, lots of prayer, encouragement, and overcoming large obsticals. Congrats, Christine, and congrats, Armstrong!

 

[B33R]

As I said in a PM to KP earlier...

"We really couldn't have asked for any better news, especially considering the last week. I guess prayer and positive thoughts really do make a difference.
Ha ha! You should see the smile on my face. This is great! "


Even 3 and a half hours after posting the news, I still have a huge smile on my face. It's so awesome for Christine, her family and everyone involved.

She's gonna outlive us all! Way to go Christine! :tu:

 

[ahtum]

Wow! Great news :tu:.

 

[SpareDomains]

really really really good news, glad to hear everything is going good, congrats to Christine & Armstrong and a thanks to Cyberian & B33R who always keep an eye out for the latest news.

 

[-db-]

Amazing...

Astounding...

Amen.

Thank you God.

 

[Marcvs]

great news

get well soon!

 

[True_Snake]

Sorry for not keeping up with this thread, but I just read the great news. I am absolutely delighted at this! Her story has honestly brought tears to my eyes. So much courage, so brave, so strong!

Get well soon Christine :tu: ! You really are an inspiration!


True_Snake

 

[briman1970]

GREAT NEWS!!!

I live with a kidney disorder and I'm very familiar with pain and doctors, but reading about Christine's battle makes my problems seem trivial. This thread has been a recent reminder to me that life is precious and we need to be thankful for what we have, because...

a) life WILL eventually throw you a curveball.
b) it CAN happen to me or my loved ones.

I'm still praying for you Christine! You are an inspiration!!!

 

[Genialnames]

.....we have what we make. Doing well we have wellness.

The Christine's adventure has a special value to me .

 

[namenut]

I'm going to go wake my daughter up and hug her until she makes me leave.

God bless you all.

namenut

 

[ultranet]

good luck. We wil pray ....

 

[Kenny]

I'm going to go wake my daughter up and hug her until she makes me leave.

God bless you all.

namenut

That one made me yelp.
Yea man .... perspective.

 

[B33R]

I'm going to go wake my daughter up and hug her until she makes me leave.

That sounds good, I really hope you did and continue to do so...

I'd love to bring you an update but there isn't one. No news is good news, I guess!

Peace!

 

[B33R]

November 6th - :tu:

EVERYBODY!!!!!!

I am between hospital appointments but I have to share this right now. Remember how I said that life can be sudden and unpredictable?

Bad news: The sample from my bone-marrow biopsy (that contained the info that I've been biting my fingernails about for the last two weeks) somehow got LOST. The lab doesn't have it and no one can find it. That's why the results seemed to be taking so long. No test was ever done!!! My blood counts may be low, but they are hanging in there, so the doctors do not feel it is necessary to do another biopsy. (whew!) Instead, we drew blood for an HLA test today. Results to come next week.

Good News: After 134 days, I am finally breaking out of this cocoon and GOING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (As soon as tomorrow!!!!)

Better News: I am going home a HEALTHY and happy cancer-free girl!!

Best news: It's an effin' MIRACLE!!!

Look out world!

More later.

Love, Hugs & Kisses too!
Christine

November 1, 2006: (I just noticed this one too - it's kinda long!)

Wow. I've been in the hospital for 129 days. Holy peach pits. That's longer than a
semester in college. That's longer than it takes to write a Hollywood script (based on a
best-seller). That's longer than Boy George's much-buzzed-about musical "Taboo" played
on Broadway. That's longer than the ENTIRE official NFL season.

Life is always in transition and in the 129 days that I have been sequestered away, so
much has happened.

Some of us joined into marriage to begin a new life, some of us moved to another state to
start all over. Some of us were devastated with the loss a loved one. While quite a few
were blessed with a baby boy or girl. (One of us, who was told she could not have children
because of her marrow transplant, is now pregnant with twins!) Some hearts were broken
and some new loves were found. Some of us traveled far to walk through ancient ruins
and bask in exotic suns. While some of us focused on the nest and re-discovered
ourselves. The home of one my family members burned to the ground. While another
friend built his dream second home in the mountains. In 129 days, at least two friends
who were of my greatest cheerleaders, supporters and activists were suddenly and
unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer. They lived the last weeks of their lives fully,
grasping every moment, not withholding words of love, holding the hands of those who
loved them, those who stayed at their side every step of the way. In the time they had left
on earth, they lived a much-lived life. With grace, they stepped up, faced forward and did
not run away from their fears.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Life can be sudden and unexpected and your
whole world can open up or be crushed in a split second. We all live in uncertainty, but it
is in the unknown that ANYTHING is possible. Trust in the uncertain. I think of how
different just my one little life was one year ago, before the relapse. The hopes and
expectations of how 2006 "should" have been. I was excited to start a life anew, but
cancer, for the second time, took that dream away. For a moment, I thought all was lost
and that this story would end dark like a Greek tragedy. I'm glad that I was wrong. I look
back now and see that I HAVE started a new life. Not the glossy romanticized drunken
bohemian picture painted in my head, but one that is true, honest and real, rich and
meaningful. 2006 was not what I thought it should be. It was so much more.

I've spent the majority of the last two weeks in bed. It is taking a long time to get up from
the serious knockdown from earlier this month. I can't believe it's November already. I'm
on even MORE medication, which has turned my brain into oatmeal. I feel like a zombie
underwater. But I reached a MAJOR milestone today. I ate breakfast OUTSIDE. For the
first time, I am allowed out of my room WITHOUT a heavy surgical mask! Yes, under the
trees, in the grass, with nothing between my lungs and the luscious air. Small steps,
though. I still have to wear a mask in the hospital or if I find myself in a crowd. It's flu
season, so we have to be careful: visitors still ought to wash hands and wear masks and I
can't do any huggin' or kissin' until my blood counts get a little higher. Baby steps. It's
so vital yet so torturous!!!

Another wonderful milestone: I can EAT OUT!!!!!!!!! I am no longer on a restricted diet!
Though again, baby steps. I'm now on a "cautious" diet. No sushi, restaurant salads,
medium-rare steaks or buffets. Only thoroughly cooked food in uncrowded restaurants.
But, oh the joy of a fine meal and fine conversation with my beautiful friends!!! I can't
wait!!

At City of Hope, they held a Halloween parade for all the pediatric patients. These sweet
kids and their families gathered at Helford, the main building and then followed a path
around the hospital dotted with candy stops, manned by costumed staff from the many
departments on campus. The little patients looked like any Trick-or-Treaters: vampires,
Cinderellas, pirates, angels and ghouls. The only things that gave away the fact that these
adorable faces were fighting cancer were the wheelchairs and I.V. poles. But their eyes
shone with the same excitement and glee of any child as they would stop at a desk or a
gaggle of nurses and get handfuls of candy. Many of the kids used pillowcases swiped off
their own hospital beds. There was so much love and preciousness in the air. All we
wanted to do was help these kids feel normal. To feel like they were still a part of this
world, this celebration, and this life. It was the best Halloween party I ever went to.

We still have not received the final results of the marrow graft test, but early summaries
have shown that there is NO INDICATION OF LYMPHOMA. Now we are waiting to hear if
the graft is still holding on and how well the marrow is performing. So far, its
performance has been far less than the doctors have hoped for, but they are delighted that
I am still alive and kicking. A miracle. Truly a miracle. Prayers WORK.

I am so happy to be alive and I can't wait to start living again. My desire is to be the
proverbial "bird out of a cage", "first out of the gate", "man with a mission", but I have
been told that going home is merely the next small step in my recovery process. "Whoa,
Nelly" is the message I'm getting from doctors and fellow BMT survivors. There is still that
"50% mortality rate at 6 months" statistic looming over my head. I'm at Day 119. That
leaves another 61 days to go to beat the odds of the next stage. Every day is a coin toss.

Simple pleasures. Soul connection. Meaning. Love, laughter and joy. (And occasional
moments of complete nonsense just to stir things up a bit.) That, for me, is enough for
now. Enjoy this Autumn. Its wonders. Its snap. Its crispness. We are blessed.

Much love,
Christine P