Anna continued this past week with the twice a week chemo via Lumbar Puncture for the Central Nervous System. She went over on Monday with our friend kreddy. The treatment itself went well, but they had a little fun with nausea on the ride home. They were driving home, and Anna decided it was time to pull over. After wards, she called Grossy (her Oncologist) on his cell... yeah, she's got it like that. He had her head back to the hospital and up to the cancer center. He wound up loading her up with fluids and some nausea medicine via her port. Once she gets like that, it's best to deliver via port, to make sure that she's able to keep everything down.
She went back again on Thursday for round-2 for the week. Our neighbors were able to drop her off and pick her back up (Thanks John and Elisa). Everyone in the same day surgery and radiology special procedures departments know Anna well. I've really been amazed with Anna's personality throughout this whole ordeal. Not only is she emotionally strong, but she really goes out of her way to be friendly with everyone along the way. I think the folks there really look forward to seeing her and have a good time when she's around. These folks see a lot of bad stuff and I'm sure most people that go through there are pretty miserable about being there, but Anna really continues to keep positive and have a good time with it. She's been a little extra tired this past week. She was supposed to have a couple visitors today, but wound up canceling as she wasn't feeling strong enough to get out of bed and socialize... so, she'll get a little more rest and we'll see how this coming week goes. She drops down to having the Lumbar Puncture procedure only once a week, so hopefully that will help a bit. She's also on the other Larsen regiment still for maintenance chemo, so she's got enough things going through her, that ya never really know how it's going to go.
I'm getting really close to being ready for this Donor Drive. I was able to speak with a local representative who is going to help me out with the drive. We're likely to do both a virtual drive (online and in your home), along with a few drives at physical locations. Here's the way it works for the virtual/online version.
1. I obtain my account/promo codes (should happen this week)
2. Everyone signs up online using my info... this way the process to register and be tested is free
3. They can send you a kit to test yourself at home... medicine has progressed so much that all you need to do is take a couple swabs in your mouth, put them in a Ziploc and send them back via mail
4. They test to see if you are a match for Anna, or anyone else on the waiting list.
5. If so, then they contact you and the procedure is then very similar to donating blood
6. If you weren't a match, they add your info to the database and call in you in the future if you ever are a match for someone.
The one at physical locations (like someone's job), is similar, except they just show up and do the test right there taking care of steps 2 and 3 on the spot.
That's it. It's that simple. You don't need a Dewalt drill and 3/16" drill bit anymore... and the process of free... that's it... no money, no pain... and you could save someone's life. It's crazy to me that so many people, including myself, have never registered and there are people out there dying because they cannot find a match. I'm not being judgmental with that, how could I be since I haven't registered... I think the problem is purely awareness. Most people have no idea that it's that easy and they could save someone's life. So, new mission in life is to make sure everyone is aware and educated about this. I am so excited to get this going.
Once I have the info, it's going to be important that people register... and possibly more important that you spread the word. This really needs to get out to your friends, your friends-friends, and into the local communities. The reality is that a match is more likely to come out of the Latino communities given Anna's heredity... and unfortunately, the registry has far fewer people of Latino descent... so I really need to get "all my Dominicanos right up, right there up on Broadway", and them Cuban folk down in Florida to get motivated and get the word out. I need folks that are not only willing to register for themselves, but also to help get the word out. This could be going to your local community or church or your job.
We really can make a difference... hopefully both for Anna, and many other people out there that we may not even know. I've been toying with the catch phrase "Be a hero, register to save someone's life. It's easier than you think." If you are interested or can help, please drop me an email or leave me a comment below. I want to start getting people organized now in advance of having all of the info. I'm going to need everyone's help to spread this via email, facebook, twitter, and good old fashion word of mouth. I'm so excited to get this process started.
Things at home are settling down a bit. It's been great to have Teresa with us. TJ is getting along with her really well for the most part. If Anna or I are around, he tries really hard to be attached to one of us, but we're making sure that she feeds/bathes him and takes care of the other basic things. We need him to get comfortable with this, as it's going to be the way life is for a while.
If you get a chance, leave us a comment/thought/prayer or whatever you want to call it. It's easy... for the FB crowd, you just need to click the Facebook Connect button to login with your FB info... for everyone else, just register or login with your previous created username/password. If you have any troubles, please drop me an email.
PS. If anyone is not watching Modern Family, you really should start. I'm not one much for TV these day (except for Sports), but that show is so funny. I think I'm in love with Gloria... must be something about those Latinas with the curvy bodies... daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!