Comments on: What'sa marrow wit you?

By: Queenie

Queenie — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:54:17 +0000

Guinnes? I love this country…we only got tea!

I lived in the UK for a long time so I can’t give blood here. I was
a regular donor in the UK, and at the time of the BSE or ‘mad cow disease’ scare, I don’t think I ever visited McDonalds for one of their mmmmm yummmy eversohealthy burgers, I lived on lettuce, and alcohol!!…but I digress, I think we should all sign up for as many donor registers as possible, we can’t all be surgeons, but we can help, and so we should.

Pity I can’t give blood, as I would like to, the ladies with the ‘time out’ bars used to fall over themselves to get the needle into me as I have a very rare blood group…

“The Japanese believe that your blood type is an indicator of your personality, similar to the belief in the Signs of the Zodiac here in India. According to the superstition, people with type AB blood are cool, controlled, rational, sociable, popular, critical and indecisive. Your Rh factor does not play a role in determining your personality”.

By: K8

K8 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:25:57 +0000

Susan; Ditto!! It’s a dicey game, this health lark. I felt guilty about waiting for tattoo clearance when there are preemies in maternity hospitals waiting for O – supplies. I wish more people would do it, it’s a nice buzz.

Jenny; The whitey buzz is nasty, isn’t it? Hot baths are definitely out, I learned that the hard way! It’s just a case of managing it and knowing it’s worth it somehow.

Baino; Epidurals are nasty!!! We only welcome them because of the alternative! They put you to sleep, though. That sounds inviting. If they give you Guinness after a blood donation, would they give you a keg after a marrow harvest? Hmmm… must ask.

Trish; It’s really all about the A.R.K. idea you wrote about! The world needs random acts, whether they’re fruitful or not.

By: Trish

Trish — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:47:09 +0000

sorry just to clarify the close friend was a different person …it’s 4.48am in Australia and I realise I didn’t make much sense

By: Trish

Trish — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:45:26 +0000

my Father had leukemia and he had 5 brothers and 1 sister – with only one match.
His brother donated live stem cells for a transplant a much more pleasant procedure than a bone marrow transplant.

What a great message.
I was a match for bone marrow but I was pregnant at the time and I couldn’t or wasn’t allowed to help.
A close friend did donate bone marrow and later they found out the child didn’t make it but still you have to give them the chance.

I am glad the young guy survived.

By: Baino

Baino — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:43:22 +0000

I thought for a moment you donated bone marrow. And that can’t be much worse than an epidural (I felt nothing possibly because I was in LABOUR) I’ve been a donor but my ‘type’ isn’t very popular
A RH-. . . . worth it tho. Oh reminds me, I’m a total veg and have lost the link to Laughing Boy’s school. Can you email please. Do it folks. Give blood . .and you get a free orange juice and biscuit. Free is good right?

By: J Adamthwaite

J Adamthwaite — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:13:02 +0000

I’ve given blood a couple of times, but the last time I did I felt so faint that I haven’t been brave enough since. I really should go back. I have to say that I haven’t even considered bone marrow donation. It hadn’t even crossed my mind as something you could do until very recently. That’s another reason I’ll have to be extra brave to go back… although I will do… sometime soon…

By: susan

susan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:05:38 +0000

What’s a marrow, she says…I thought I was getting a recipe!

I was a regular blood donor until five years ago, and couldn’t give back then when the truck came ’round because I’d had surgery that year. Unfortunately I’ve had surgery or been pregnant every year since, though two of those surgeries were minor things: wide awake, hand strapped to the table, ten minutes and being wheeled away again. But, I’m barred from giving blood until I can go a whole year without seeing the OR.

My husband’s willing to donate and is healthy, very fit. But he’s from the North, and anyone living in the UK between certain years can never give blood here at all: so he’s off the list.

I don’t think people realise that VERY few people volunteer to donate blood ever. Among those of us willing, a disheartening percentage CAN’T give for one reason or another.

That leaves a huge dependence on a scarily tiny number of people.

K8, I salute you, and the lady you met. God bless and good luck! And I hope you and yours never find yourself on the other side of those donations.