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…
