I did it.

A while ago Abbie made a decision.

She blogged about it here.

You see, babies with Down Syndrome

are more likely to develop childhood leukemia.

If this happens to Ollie 

I pray they have a match.

I needed to consider this.

I went the website for bone marrow donors 

and read about what it entailed.

I prayed about it and waited.
I wanted my family's support
if I was ever called to help.

I made my decision and ordered my kit.

My kit came and I took the steps 
I needed to be on the registry.

Key facts about the registry are:

• 70% of people needing a donor will not have a match in their family.

• Donors do not pay any of the expenses.

• If you are matched it will take 30-40 hours of 4-6 weeks.

• There are two ways to donate: peripheral blood stem cell donation, which is most common (non-surgical, looks much like donating plasma....blood is removed, what they need is taken from the blood, a portion of the blood is returned to you) and marrow donation from the pelvis.  

Abbie documented the process it takes to send your sample in.

You just order the kit and 

swab your cheek with the swabs they send.

You return it in a postage paid envelope.

Easy peasy.

You wait and in a couple of months you are on their registry

until you reach the age of 61.

Yeah, I am a little nervous.

If I am a match

I think the needle in the hip bone hurts a bit.

I am pretty tough on big things.

A hang nail will make

me gripe and gripe

but with big things I suck it up.

I had a 10 pounder followed by 3 c-sections.

I had the epidural needle for one and

the spinal needle for the other 2.

Needles can be your friend at times.

Then my broken shoulder surgery 

and following therapy sessions

put those into sissy category, 

so I say bring it.

If I am a match, I am in.

Check out their website.

Be The Match 

Maybe you will consider it.

You can decide for yourself.

My actions might save a life. 

Oh, and I have a hang nail, 

so steer clear of me ;)