And the last time I donated, I was still CMV-negative, so they separated my platelets into 4 bags to use for neo-natal transplants. I've never been called on marrow, but I did get called for a non-Hodgkins lymphoma patient for white blood cells. That automatically (unless you opt-out) puts you in the bone marrow registry, and if you win the lottery you might be called to save someone's life. And consider giving platelets through pheresis.
#2 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: September 27, 2006, 05:07 PM:Īnd, on a simpler level - give blood. (I’ll always remember Mike explaining that when they put in a new kidney, they don’t take out the old one: “Now if I’m in the same room with Teresa Nielsen Hayden, * the count comes out even.”) What’s inarguable is how much it improved the quality of the life he had.
That transplant may have added years to Mike’s life. The new kidney started working within days. Sixteen hours later he was wheeled out of the recovery room. Then a really prime donor kidney turned up that was an excellent tissue match for Mike. Before, he was tied to a constant regimen of ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-and frankly, even with the dialysis he wasn’t doing too well. That transplant made an amazing difference in Mike’s life. As she said, “One of the best medical things that ever happened to Mike was the kidney transplant he got in November of 2000.” She’s reprinted the piece she wrote about it at the time. Elise says that if you’re grieving over Mike and would like something constructive to do, sign your organ donor card.