Published on November 27, 2006 By anothermaso In Blogging
I received some sad/happy news at the weekend - one of my oldest friends is spending January in Sydney (where we are) away from his Adelaide home (some 1400 kms away or 870 odd miles). That's the happy part - the sad part is he's coming with his wife and youngest son so the kid can get a bone marrow transplant. Brendan's been sick for a while and has Myelodyplasia Syndrome (they think). But at least there's a donor - and he's doing well so far on the drugs they're giving him.

We all have lots of hope - in a large part because we have another friend who's been on the other end of the process. Almost two years ago he donated his bone marrow - and a few months ago received a letter and photograph from the parents of the young girl whose life he's turned around. They've thanked him but of course neither knows the other (donations are kept anonymous in Australia).

So my large group of friends are all thinking happy thoughts for Brendan - and hoping it'll work out as well this time around.

Comments
on Nov 28, 2006
I've always thought about being a donor, because I know how helpful it is. I'm a wimp though and scared of the pain involved, or so I've heard, so I've never done it.

I do hope the treatment will work for Brendan. He'll be in my prayers!
on Nov 28, 2006

Best of luck to your friends and their son!  I will say a prayer that all goes well and the transplant does the trick.

on Nov 28, 2006
I will keep them in my thoughts as well.
on Nov 28, 2006
Thank you for your kind thoughts... serenity when I found out about Brendan I looked into it (I'm a blood donor so it seemed logical) but now I'm (oh horror) over 40 they won't even put me on the list! How much does that suck...

And I'll pass on your kind thoughts and keep you up to date
on Nov 28, 2006
Prayers and well wishes for healing.