Shaquille O’Neal Supports Be The Match

Read about Taylor on the Mid Dekalb news website by CLICKING HERE

Press Release from Be the Match:

Shaquille O’Neal has teamed up with Be The Match to challenge Americans to “Be the one to save a life.” Starting today, three public service announcements will hit the airwaves and the Internet to help the thousands of patients like Taylor John who need a marrow transplant.

Unlike most 15-year-old girls, Taylor isn’t eagerly anticipating her 16th birthday. She has severe sickle cell anemia and a marrow transplant is her best hope for a cure. But there is no matching donor in her family or currently on the Be The Match Registry. And because of the progression of the disease, doctors say Taylor may run out of time if a match isn’t found before her 16th birthday, which is this August.

Taylor and thousands of other patients are counting on the Be The Match Registry, whose 8 million volunteer members stand ready to become marrow donors. While many patients do find the life-saving match they need each year, more donors are needed, especially those from racially and ethnically diverse communities.

You can be the one who helps save a life. Take the first step by joining online at BeTheMatch.org.

UCLA Bone Marrow Drive May 5-7, 2010

Click on the image to view and read the letter Janet received.

I have mentioned Janet Liang on Tami's blog from time to time. Janet is a young woman who was diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing round 7 of 8 rounds of chemotherapy in an attempt to knock the cancer back and attain remission. Hopefully she will and the remission will be long term. If the many months and 8 rounds of chemo fail, a bone marrow transplant will be her only hope at being cured and living a long and healthy life.

With the help of UCLA Vice Chancellor Janina Montero UCLA (Janet's alma mater) will be hosting a marrow drive for Team Janet.

Please help me to spread the word about this event:

Bruin Plaza
UCLA Campus
May 5-7, 2010
10:00 am-2:00 pm

Already in the registry? Volunteers are needed. If you can help please email Gloria at gchi@a3mhope.org with the date/time you are coming and your phone number. Thanks!

Currently there is no match for her in the national registry so, thinking it's better to be prepared, Janet has kept up with raising awareness as to not only her need, but the need thousands of other patients who are dealing with the day by day search to find a marrow match in time to save their lives.

While she has been sick, Janet has been really busy emailing and writing people. I had not heard from her in quite some time and was glad that she messaged me today to ask a favor in helping her to publicize an upcoming marrow drive at UCLA.

Said Janet in her note to me:

"It's not just about leukemia for me, it's about fighting cancer in general ... and this applies to such a huge demographic suffering from illness, young and old."

Catching Up

Stacie here. Sorry for the lack of recent posts. I was sick with not one but two colds back to back. The first was really bad. Knocked me off of my feet for about 5-6 weeks. I was well for about 4 days then came down with a sore throat and another new cold that's lasted a couple of weeks.

During that time I had barely been posting here and in my own blog that I run for my company. Am finally well again and am playing catch up. I'll be calling Tami for an update, sharing some patients' updates, there have been both highs and lows in the past two months, and here's a great video I saw over on Team Haupt's website I wanted to share:

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.

Helping Matt and Chloe Win a Dream Wedding!

Some of you may remember our friend Matthew Nguyen whose Leukemia relapsed last year at around the same time Tami was diagnosed with her Myelodysplasia. Matthew had to wait until last fall to receive a transplant but is now, like Tami, on the mend and wanting to move forward with his life.

Their love story.

After 3 engagement years, 2 attempts at wedding planning, and 1 cancer-free groom, they are ready to tie the knot!! They're fellow Bruins who fell in love and are elated to start their lives together. Wedding plans started in March 2007 but abruptly halted when Matt was diagnosed with leukemia. A year of chemo and Matt in remission, try #2 at plans for a May 2009 wedding. 3 months before the wedding, with all plans set, Matt relapsed and again, their wedding came second to leukemia. With a successful transplant last September, they are now ready to finally say our I-do!

Please vote for them to win the Crate and Barrel $100,000 wedding giveaway at the link below. Finalists are chosen by those with the highest vote counts:

VOTE for MATTHEW and CHLOE by CLICKING HERE

Bid on a Custom Cartoon Illustration of You

This Auction is now Closed

Congratulations Michelle who won with a $175.00 bid

Bidding Began at $50.00

All proceeds will be donated in their entirety to help my friend and recovering Marrow Transplant Patient Roger Contreras. If you've been wanting to commission a custom, flirty, "Cartoon You" illustration (similar to the one of Tami), here is a great opportunity to order one and help someone in need at the same time. Pricing for a custom illustration normally begins at $250. This week I will be offering a single illustration* in an auction to help my friend Roger. Bidding will begin at $50 and last until noon (PST) Friday, Feb. 26th, 2010.

I will update the most current bid as quickly as possible here in this blog post.

Current Bid is:

$175.00 by Michelle

CLICK HERE to PLACE YOUR BID and to view the Terms and Conditions *The llustration includes a $250, head to toe, empty handed version (like the first one in the image above) of a custom cartoon similar to those seen on the GIRLgoesGEEK.com website that can be used for many purposes including on invitations, a business card/letterhead design or as an online web/blog/social media site avatar of yourself. If you would like the cartoon to be holding any item(s) additional fees will apply. Those fees will also be donated to Roger Contreras. Even after receiving chemo and losing his hair Roger was always smiling. With his sister/marrow donor after his transplant Roger was still smiling. As the year progressed and the complications set in and his recovery was set back further and further the pictures he posted contained fewer and fewer smiles. I'm just hoping this fundraising effort will help to put a little smile back on his face. Roger, a plumber by trade, has been unable to work ever since receiving his marrow transplant in March of 2009. This means he has been unable to earn any income for over a year as his illness (Myelodysplasia, the same blood cancer my cousin Tami also suffered from) had incapacitated him for much of 2008. Most patients who receive transplants cannot work for at least one year. Roger has had numerous post transplant complications that look as if they will keep him out of the work force even longer. You can just imagine how difficult it must be to be stressed over finances while trying to recover from a major medical procedure. This auction was the only idea I could come up with to help Roger. Please know your bid will be going to help a very deserving individual.

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A BBQ Benefit is being held in Houston, TX to help pay for Roger's final round of cancer treatment

Date & Time: Saturday, March 6th at 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Where: Vara's Sport's Bar 2727 North Freeway Houston, TX 77009-3808 (North between Calvalcade & Patton) To see more details and RSVP on Facebook just CLICK HERE

Update on Tami

Day +232 Post Transplant

I spoke to Tami yesterday by phone. The good news is there is no bad news persay. She continues to recover slowly but steadily.

Some of the pain in her joints has subsided slightly. There is a chance that this pain may be long term or permanent caused by the the chemo she received to prepare her for her transplant. Hopefully that won't be the case.

She is feeling better but is still too tired to be able to do the normal, everyday, things she would like to do. Because of a medication she is still taking she isn't driving yet. Being chauffeured around for the past year it will probably feel a little strange when she is able to finally start driving again.

On the good news front, she is not suffering from any active GVHD flare ups and her hair is continuing to grow back in :) Talking to her on the phone she sounds just like her old self. It's very comforting just to hear her voice.

Canadian National Chinese Stem Cell Drive: March 27, 4 Locations

More then 20 Chinese ethnicity patients in Canada are searching for a stem cell donor that could save their lives. People 17-50 years of age are needed to join the Canadian OneMatch registry.

In the U.S. people 18-60 years of age can join the National Marrow Donor Program at any time and their results will also be checked to help patients in Canada.

Drive Details:

Saturday, March 27, 2010
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

First Markham Place, Markhan
3255 Highway 7 East
Markham ON, L3R 3P9
Phone #: 905-944-1629

Splendid China Mall, Scarborough
4675 Steeles Avenue East Scarborough,
ON M1V 4S5
Phone #: 416-293-8871

Chinese Gospel Church, Chinatown
450 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON, M5T 1G7
Phone #: 416-977-2530

Aberdeen Centre, Richmond
4151 Hazelbridge Way
Richmond, BC, Canada
Phone #: Phone: (604) 270-1234
Directions: On the south-west corner of Hazelbridge Way and Cambie Road, one block east of No.3 Road in central Richmond.

To learn more please visit www.ChineseStemCell.ca or www.OneMatch.ca

Asian Marrow Donors Urgently Needed for Natalie

Natalie is 8 years old. She has a little brother and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can visit her marrow drive website www.HopeForNatalie.com for more information about how to join the marrow registry.

After five difficult rounds of chemotherapy last year, Natalie’s leukemia was in remission. Now it’s back and she has just weeks to find the bone marrow donor match that could save her life.

Natalie's greatest chance for a match is from those of ASIAN descent. Please help spread the word through your local Asian community. It doesn't matter where in the country you live. If you are her marrow match your marrow can be collected (the process is relatively pain free) and flown to the Bay Area.

To locate a drive nationwide CLICK HERE to use the zip code locater on the National Marrow Donor Program website.

Upcoming Bay Area Drives for Natalie are at:

Pleasant Hill, CA
Host: DKMS Americas
When: Saturday February 20, 2010
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Gregory Gardens Elementary School
Address: 1 Corritone Ct, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Berkeley, CA
Host: DKMS Americas
When: Monday, February 22, 2010
Time: 12 noon to 6pm
Location: Pauley East, MLK Student Union on Cal Campus
Address: Telegraph & Bancroft, Berkeley, CA

Hope For Natalie Nakatani from Patrick Biesemans on Vimeo.

“There are so many wonderful things to say about Natalie. She is curious, joyful, artistic, a great big sister, intelligent, silly, loves life and loves to be around people. We love her so much that it hurts deeply to even be separated from her at the hospital. Our little girl needs an Asian donor match urgently, so please do whatever you can to make it a priority to get tested at the bone marrow drive. There are no matches for Natalie right now. We hope that you will be the special miracle that will save her life.” – the Nakatanis