It's hard to keep you guys updated very well on Randy's situation, and still respect their privacy. I'm trying not to be too specific, or use anyone's name other than Randy's. But It's hard. We talked again on Thursday night, and she said she'd call if the results came in yesterday. She didn't call, so they didn't come in, but we'll call them later.
I haven't been to New York in a few years now. It just gets too expensive to fly and too difficult to drive with all these kids - so I've never even met Randy's wife, but we've talked on the phone and she's such a sweetheart. Scott met her for the first time earlier this year when he went up for his Dad's funeral, and really liked her a lot. Now, I mean, she's being so wonderful with Randy, so supportive and positive and doing everything for him that he needs. And she's handling it so well, I'm amazed. She won't let him give up, and when he found out that none of the other siblings matched on Wednesday, he took it really hard. But she just wouldn't let him give up. She's exactly what Randy needs.
You know, they dated as teenagers for a while and "re-met" a few years ago. She said she drug out the letters and poems (yes, she writes poetry too!) that she wrote back then and read them to him recently. Isn't that absolutely the sweetest thing ever? I think she just might be the biggest reason he makes it through this. I don't know how she does it. She was telling me about all the insurance beaurocracy and red tape, and the deductible and the percentages and the way the insurance company won't pay for the experimental drug that offers him the most hope right now. $400 a month just for that one drug, and the insurance doesn't pay for it. If Scott isn't a match he'll need time to find a match from the bone marrow bank - this drug can buy him as much as 4 months. Without it, he may very well not make it long enough to find a match at all.
Well, I'm going to go scrounging. I don't know what I have around here that anyone might want, but I'll find something, hopefully a lot of something, and it's going on ebay. All donations that I get from here out are going to them, and every other penny I can possibly spare from here to eternity too.
Erin, a man surrounded by so much love and positive energy has to have the best chance in the world for survival.
ReplyDeleteIf I can come up with the cash I'll go down and have myself tested, too. I'd be willing to give up some marrow. Heck, I'm not doing much with it, anyway. It's probably a long-shot, but hey, you never know, right?
And you'd be amazed at what people buy on e-bay. (like 9 f-ing teletubbies, for instance)
Seriously, my thoughts and prayers are with Randy, and the entire family. If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask.
Oh Ang! How awesome of you! But you'd be best to be tested for/at the donor bank, (which would be free,) since that's where they're looking now. If you were a match, they'd find you, and pay for all the travel and stuff too.
ReplyDeleteWhat blood type is Randy? And, is there any point in being tested if you're not the same? And, if you're O-neg, does that make you more of a "universal donor", like with blood, or more likely to match? And have you posted prominently the contact info for the donor bank?
ReplyDeleteThat is all, thank you! ;-)
Belinda, this is all pretty new to me, so I'm not really sure, but my understanding is that type O would be more 'universal.
ReplyDeleteAs for Randy's type, we have no idea, because there's so much more to it than just blood type. I wish it were a matter of finding a willing type O, I'd have booked my flight already.
Oh, and I just found out that it isn't free to donate... which seems sort of screwed up, but you're right, I should post the donor info.
OK, I'm researching, and of course there are no donor centers in Arkansas (big surprise), but apparently they come through every once in a while. So--I came across this statement:
ReplyDelete"Marrow and blood cell transplants require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and patient. Because these traits are inherited in the same way as hair or eye color, a patient's most likely match is someone of the same race or ethnicity. To improve the chances for all patients to find a match, more Black and African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Hispanic and Latino potential volunteer donors are needed."
So, what sort of traits and ethnicities are we talking here? I'm brown hair/eyes, fair skin, of English/Irish/Germanic/Cherokee and lots of unknown "mutt" heritage. I'm O-neg blood type. I'm happy to give it a shot, unless you guys are all Nordic or something and it wouldn't work out.
lol, no, not Nordic - French Canadian/Italian with more of the italian traits, Blue eyes, olive skin, dark brown hair, 10 fingers 10 toes
ReplyDeleteErin, I think about you and your family all the time.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a strong person at your brother-in-law's side who can help him through this.