If You Live in California Your Help is Needed

If you've been reading Tami's blog since last year you'll remember Michelle Maykin. Michelle was a beautiful young wife, daughter, sister, cousin and friend to those who loved her most when she passed away last summer while fighting Leukemia. While a bone marrow match was never found for her, the efforts of Michelle and her loved ones helped over 18,000 people to join the National Marrow Donor Program as potential donors. So far four of those 18,000 turned out to be matches for other patients in need. With dedication and passion her mother has been working hard to continue the fight in Michelles name and with the help of a local Sentaor is very close to creating a new law to help people to become donors.

The "Michelle Maykin Memorial Donation Protection Act,” will allow private and public sector employees paid time off for organ or marrow donation. Donors would no longer have to worry about the financial burden of their gift. We know that this will ultimately lead to more registered donors and more lives saved.

Please Sign the Petition

The following post is from Michelle's blog and was written by her sister Melanie on behalf of her family:

It’s been 8 months since Michelle left us and the pain is still raw. There is a huge emptiness inside me and I continue to grieve for what has happened. I hang on to so many of the moments I shared with Michelle, afraid as more time passes that I am leaving her behind.

We continue to honor Michelle’s wishes and are focused on helping patients so that something positive can come from this horrible reality. My mom has been working hard with political leaders and the community to continue helping those in need of bone marrow transplants. In February, Senator Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, CA introduced Senate Bill 1304, the “Michelle Maykin Memorial Donation Protection Act,” that will allow private and public sector employees paid time off for organ or marrow donation. Donors would no longer have to worry about the financial burden of their gift. We know that this will ultimately lead to more registered donors and more lives saved.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For SB 1304 to pass, it has to go through the legislative process. The next step is for the bill to go through the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee where it is reviewed and then voted up or down. The committee hearing will be held on April 14, 2010. Here is how you can help pass SB 1304 out of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and move it to the next step of the legislative process:

1) Sign our online petition to show the widespread community support for SB 1304.

Link for Online Petition

2) Tell your friends and family to sign the petition

3) Fill the room at the Hearing on April 14 in Capitol Building (9:30 am in Room 2040)

4) Spread the word by emailing friends and family with the above message to get them involved. Log onto your favorite networking sites and ask everyone you know to sign the petition or send a letter of support:

Senator Mark DeSaulnier
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento, CA 95814

Passing this bill was something Michelle dreamed about and worried we couldn’t get done. We are now so close but we need you to succeed. With your help, we can save more lives and prevent families from having to go through what mine is struggling with everyday.

Thank you so much for all your support,

Melanie

Link to pre-drafted letter to be signed: Pre-Drafted Letter

Link to detailed Senate Bill 1304: SB 1304 Bill

Winter Olympics 2010

Oh man was I shocked when I found out that Tami was in Vancouver attending the Winter Olympics! She has always been a fan of figure skating so I was thrilled for her when I found out she was there to see the Women's Final Skate and the Exhibition Skate! Here she is picking up her ticket at the broker's office.

She had a phenomenal seat!

She took this picture herself after the medals ceremony. WOW, right? From left to right: silver medal winner Mao Asada from Japan, gold medal winner Yu-Na Kim from Korea and bronze medal winner Joannie Rochette from Canada.

In her email Tami also said: "Michelle Kwan was at the final sitting in the section next to me. Katarina Witt was also there, I didn't a good shot of her. They sat together."

"I also went to the figure skating exhibition with all the winners. I met Scott Hamilton. He autographed my ticket from the exhibition as he was commentating in the section next to where I was sitting. I went and talked to him after the show. He was really nice. I took the pic when he was signing my ticket."

Downtown Vancouver at Robson Square

The cauldron was not too photogenic due to the barriers and fencing. Fortunately by the time Tami got there they had at least moved the barriers closer. For the life of me I will never understand why they were not able to come up with a better solution to allow visitors to take nicer pictures of the outdoor cauldron. LOL it's still a nice picture of Tami and Don. Too bad the cauldron doesn't look as good as they do!

Anyways Tami had a terrific time. The only really bad part of the trip is that she did catch a cold while she was there. Hopefully it won't linger and she'll be feeling better very soon.