Friday, June 28, 2013

Do I Look Lucky?

6/28/13 – One of my favorite lines from a movie is in the film Rocky II. The movie begins where the first Rocky movie ends. Rocky and Apollo Creed just finished a boxing match where they literally beat the heck out of each other. Apollo Creed is declared the winner of the fight. This is followed by both boxers being rushed to the hospital and a scene where the boxers meet in the emergency room. Apollo is beside himself that he almost lost the match to the unknown underdog named Rocky. He approaches Rocky with a verbal attack that concludes with “You are the luckiest man alive”. Rocky looks at his wife Adrian with his broken eye socket and nose and says: “Do I look lucky?

It is very funny how we use the word “lucky”. I guess being lucky is a matter of what perspective you have. Back in March I had a post about a great gift my wife gave me for my birthday. It was a Saint Peregrine medal. What I didn't say was that she had it inscribed with the word “Lucky” on the back of it. And in all honesty, I am lucky. I truly feel very lucky that I am scanned on a regular basis and that my relapse was caught so early. I truly feel lucky that I am surrounded by many great and supportive people who love me. And I feel extremely lucky because of all my family and friends who are contacting me and asking me how much they want to me my donor. I cannot tell you how many times a day people ask me “What do I have to do to be your donor; I will do whatever it takes!” How much more lucky could I be than knowing so many people care for me and want to help?

It would be so awesome if finding a donor was that easy… but it is not. I have been told that there is a better chance of winning the lottery than finding a donor among my friends. I have explained to all who have asked me about being a donor is that if they truly want to help, the best thing they could do is to join the donor registry. True, most likely they will not be able to be my donor but maybe they could help someone else.

I did a little research and found the following website that explains how you could become a donor. The website is: http://bethematch.org/
This website explains how to join on-line, how to join in person, what your donor commitment will be, it answers frequently asked questions about being a donor, provides medical guidelines about being a donor, and it addresses myths and facts about donation. If that is not enough they provide a phone number that you could call and get additional information.  The phone number is: 1-800-MARROW-2 or 1-800-627-7692

It certainly couldn't hurt the check out this website. Who knows, maybe you could be someone else’s Lucky Charm.

Here is a link to an all-time great song about being a friend to those in need. Enjoy!
“You Got A Friend”  by James Taylor

Quick Health Update: I really do not have anything new and exciting to report. I am pretty much in a bit of a holding pattern as I wait to hear about the next steps of the transplant process.
I continue to feel great and I am able to live a very normal life. To be honest I still feel a little tired and I have been feeling some weakness in my legs. We have been watching this closely but I doubt it is anything to worry about.

I am coming up to the end of my cycle 4. My next appointment is July 2nd where I will begin cycle 5.  

My next scans are scheduled for July 22nd and I will get my results on July 23rd.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:12-15

More to come…