UPDATE: Brian found a perfect match and the transplant has taken place. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
Our cousin Brian has Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, or CML. He was diagnosed three years ago and, until very recently, his meds were keeping it in check. That changed, and now he needs a bone marrow transplant. You can help without leaving your home.
I’ll tell you how after I tell you a little about Brian. Technically, he’s my husband’s cousin, but after 34 years he’s my cousin, too. We spent time with Brian and Peggy in their beautiful home on the water in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, in February. We hadn’t seen them in about a decade and so enjoyed catching up and hanging out with them. They’ve built a wonderful life together on the Gulf Coast, and we can’t wait to visit them again.
“Please consider saving the LIFE of someone from your heritage with 70 different blood disease like sickle cell or blood cancers like leukemia.
Go to join.bethematch.org/TeamBrian to join as a committed new member online if you’re ages 18-44 and willing to help any patient in need. A kit will be sent to you. Just mail it back ASAP. Help us bring awareness by sharing this online link. Remember: YOU could be the CURE!”
Here are three ways to help:
Sign up to join the Be The Match donor registry without leaving home.
You can click here or text teambrian to 61474. Fill out the questionnaire, and they’ll mail you a cheek swab kit with a postage-paid return envelope. You only have to go as far as your mailbox to do this. (#couch2cure) If you are between 18 and 44 years old, it is free. That’s because most patients respond better to younger cells.
Share this information.
Share it on your social media platforms. Email it to your friends, family and coworkers. You won’t be just helping Brian, you’ll be helping the 12,000 patients who search the database for a match each year.
Make a donation.
When Brian receives his transplant, he will have to stay in the hospital for a month. After that, he will need to live within 10 minutes of the hospital for 8 to 12 weeks. Insurance will not cover these additional living expenses. Go to their GoFundMe page for the details. Every little bit helps.
Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Thousands of patients with a blood cancer like leukemia or other disease like sickle cell anemia need a marrow transplant to survive. Most don’t have a matching donor in their family. They turn to Be The Match®, a non-profit community of donors, volunteers, researchers and health care professionals that delivers cures. The Be The Match Registry is the largest and most diverse worldwide. But many patients, especially those of diverse ancestry, still can’t find a match. YOU could be their cure.
Thank you for reading this. I hope you’ll consider one or more of the ways to help listed above. Please comment below if you’d like graphics to share on your own social media platforms. I have information in Spanish as well. Let’s all work together to save some lives!
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