Submitted by an active IBEW 1245 member, whose name is being withheld to protect medical privacy
Sometimes life has a funny way of teaching you perspective. I had just returned from three days of debauchery in Las Vegas, and found a stack of mail sitting on the counter. Buried amongst the Christmas cards was an envelope from Be The Match, the organization that finds marrow matches for those with terminal leukemia. I had been swabbed, and registered, 6 years ago as a very small token of support for our friends, and neighbors, who had lost a 4 month old son to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
The letter informed me I might be a potential match, and that I should call their office as soon as I could. I called the next morning, and went through a lengthy interview about my health. Lab tests were set up the next day, and there was lots of blood drawn to analyze. I had long forgotten about the possibility of ever being a match. Somewhere I had been told a high rate of those who would be donors were notified shortly after being swabbed. That, along with my advancing age, led me to think this day would not ever happen.
About a week later, I received a call telling me the match was certain. I was also told that for various reasons, 30% of the people who got to this point decided not to follow through with the procedure. The woman really wanted me to be aware of the very remote chance of side affects, as well as to hear if I was absolutely committed to following through with what was ahead. In my mind, it wasn’t a tough decision. The opportunity to save another person’s life was a once in a lifetime chance.
A complete physical was set up soon after, with more blood drawn. I was told the recipient of my marrow was a 28 year old male in the early stages of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. His age, and the early diagnosis, will give him an excellent chance to beat this disease. The woman with Be The Match also shared that, assuming he makes a full recovery and if both parties consent, a meeting can be arranged. I’m not sure how I feel about that possibility.
The actual procedure is scheduled on January 29. Today I began a daily injection of Filgrastim. It is designed to increase my body’s production of hematopoietic stem cells. Those are what will be harvested from my blood on the 29th.
I will share my experience after the procedure. My hope is that those who read about my opportunity may consider getting swabbed. It takes about 10 seconds. A small price to pay for the chance to save a life.
Learn more and sign up at www.BeTheMatch.org