emberspark

So if that's the treatment, would they be willing to take volunteers to work in the clinics? I know this probably isn't your area, but I'm hoping someone else might see this and have an answer. I imagine they prefer certified doctors and nurses, but if there's only so much actual medical care that can be given, I wonder how they'd feel about taking uncertified volunteers and training them in very specific actions, like giving fluids. It just seems like there's such a shortage of doctors and nurses in these clinics.

For anyone who isn't sure if donation would be worth it, I thought I'd share this letter written by a friend of mine (whose 3 year old daughter needed a bone marrow transplant) to her donor. Donating bone marrow is something I encourage everyone to sign up for, because you are not just giving up a day of your life, but you're saving someone else. For privacy I replaced her daughter's name with X.

"Dear Donor,

I have thought about this day since June 6, 2011 when we learned that X required a bone marrow transplant. I've wondered how I would feel. How X would be doing. How we would be managing this crazy adventure.

But, most importantly, I've wondered about YOU. How you would be feeling. How proud your mother must be of you. How amazing you are. How selfless you are. How much of a blessing you are to my family.

Today, you will be wheeled into an operating room, put under general anesthesia, and have a doctor drill into your bones to collect your bone marrow. Nothing about the surgery you are willingly undergoing is easy. Yet you've selflessly agreed to do it.

No matter what stood in our way, no matter how many set backs we faced, or how many times we were rescheduled, you remained dedicated to this process. You made it clear that you would do anything to put X, and her health, at the center of this process.

So many nurses, doctors, and coordinators have told me how lucky we are to have such a serious, devoted, caring donor. While it's nice to be reminded, I didn't need them to tell me. I know, and have known since we got the call, that you were a special young man.

Today you will not just be wheeled into an OR to have a procedure. You will be wheeled into the OR as a hero, a life saver, an angel here on Earth. Our God knew what he was doing when he planned your life - He knew you would help save one of His children.

You will save my daughter's life. You will allow me to live out my dreams of being a mother. Allow my husband to continue to be an amazing daddy. Allow X's grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends to keep loving her.

But, most importantly, you will allow X to live a long life. You will allow her to experience not only the great things in life like coming to know Christ, but the simple things too. Things like learning how to ride a bike, learning to read a book, experience her first day of kindergarten and her first day of college, experience the mountains and the beach, and so much more.

You are giving us the most amazing gift anyone could give. I am forever thankful for your willingness to save X and I pray that I will be able to hug you and thank you in person one day.

I also pray that you are able to witness X's beautiful smile, her dimple, her joy, and her amazing personality.

Words will never be strong enough to express my gratitude. I just hope you can fully understand how much your gift means to our family.

We are praying for you and your recovery. Praying that this has not caused a huge disruption in your life. Praying for comfort as you heal. Praying that you know just how special you are.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving my X a second chance at life!"

Yes, but we have no real evidence that she is there because of shitty luck. For all we know, she spends all her money on drugs. I'm certainly not assuming that, but that's why they're recommending not to send money. Instead send non-perishable food, clothing, etc. Things they need. Money can be too easily spent on unnecessary things, and there are people out there, believe it or not, who would craft this kind of story just to get money out of people.

Why did you choose homeschooling? Your answers don't provide much beyond "I just thought it was best", but that's not really a very detailed answer.

I became very ill suddenly over night. I believe (though it was a long time ago) it was a mixture of bronchitis, pneumonia, an asthma attack, and blood sugar over 800. They said if my parents had waited another half hour or so to call an ambulance, I wouldn't have made it. So when they were driving me to the hospital, all I wanted was to sleep because everything hurt so much (I was in so much pain the night before, I remembered thinking that had to be death), but they made me stay awake.