On Friday, Krista had an incredible opportunity to share her story with Beth Farnsworth of KEYT news in Santa Barbara (the local ABC affiliate). She came to our house with a cameraman and interviewed her for only about 10 minutes -- long enough to tell her story and promote the upcoming marrow donor registration event. Of course that was edited down to just a sound bite (and switched reporters), but the result was a nice piece to get the word out. You can view the story at http://m.keyt.com/news/bone-marrow-drive-at-calvary-church/-/19201834/21731746/-/2rm9x2/-/index.html.
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| Krista with Beth Farnsworth |
If you're in Santa Barbara on Sunday (Sept 1, 2013), please join us at the registration event. It's at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. The address is 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez, Suite 21. Registration is simple: you just swab the inside of your cheek with four sterilized Q-Tips (that they provide). Krista is aware of 200 people at the City of Hope that are awaiting a marrow transplant and each new registration makes the odds of finding a match that much better. The registry is used world-wide, so it is useful to have any and all ethnicities and ethnic mixes get registered. The only requirement is to be between 18 and 44 years old, as those are the ages where the donor's cells are most effective.
Not everyone who registers will be matched, but those who do can be part of saving a life. Registrants who end up being a match can have their choice of how to donate the stem-cells that are so vital: either from the blood stream or from the marrow in the bones. Both options are minimally invasive and there is little pain. For the blood stream option, the donor receives shots for five days before the harvesting to increase the stem-cell count in the blood stream. This causes some bone aching symptoms associated with the increased production. The marrow option can be done under general anesthesia, and it's similar to the biopsies that Krista gets regularly. That's the extent of the involvement for the donor.
By the way, if you're coming to the registry I also invite you to the church services at Calvary Chapel which are at 9:00 am and 11:00 am if you are interested. The church is very friendly and newcomers are welcome anytime.
On an unrelated note, the kids started classes at Providence this week and it's been a really good transition so far. I'm so excited for the opportunities the kids are getting there. The schedule is a new challenge for me, getting them to school while juggling meetings with my European co-workers. Thankfully, my work has been very flexible with this so far.
On another unrelated note, we have been really appreciative of the meals that people are bringing. All of his is such an amazing amount of stuff to juggle, it really helps to not have to think about preparing dinner. Thank you Gentry, Belinda, Cheryl, Gina, Stacy, Jill, Emily, Rizwana, Amy, Kathy, Susan, Janet, and Ellie who all brought wonderful meals for us since the last time I mentioned it! The meals have been great and we're really thankful for them. Sometimes it's hard to express this when they're delivered, but know that we're really grateful.
Krista's platelets have been high until recently and now they are decreasing again. Please pray that they stabilize until Tuesday when she gets her next blood draw. Thanks!
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed...
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
(Proverbs 11:25,30)
1 comment:
I am continually amazed and encouraged by Krista. If I had to do another transplant, I know I would not be nearly as gracious and upbeat. We are gearing up for our drive here on Oahu at Hope Chapel Kaneohe for Krista at each service all weekend. I pray we find a match. You have been a blessing to me in so many ways, and yet we've not really met. How amazing is our God!
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