There is a group effort, led by Caitlyn McHugh, to pack up my apartment and the yoga studio on MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010. If you have a little time and know how to pack things in an organized fashion (I am an Iyengar yogi afterall), your help would be appreciated. Please call in advance to let Caitlyn know that you are coming.
Coordinator: Caitlyn McHugh
Her phone #: 629-9870
Her email: qtmcq@earthlink.net
Co-Coordinator: Helen Chantler
Her email: helenchantler@yahoo.com
EVENT LOCATIONS
8:30 am at my small apartment
directions: as you head south on Aqua Fria away from St. Francis, you are looking for two big blue mailboxes on your RIGHT numbered 1717. My driveway is EXACTLY across the street from these mailboxes (ie on your LEFT). There is a Caldwell Banker For Sale Sign there. Follow the bombed out dirt road as it veers to the right. We are the first compound on the left with a Coyote fence in front. Call if you get lost.
11 am at the Yoga Studio
address: 1125 Cerrillos Rd at the Oddfellows Hall. on the corner of Railfan Rd.
Caitlyn requested that you ring her in advance if at possible so that she can coordinate more effectively. The storage locker is on Cordova behind Wild Oats next the the shoe repair shop so it is not a far commute.
Thanks.
MORE Info on Bone Marrow Donation
For those of you, taking OPTION 1 (see blogs below) and donating straight to me, here is the Clinic Information:
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
825 Eastlake Ave E
PO Box 19023
Seattle WA 98109-1023
My name is Karen Mauthe. birthday: 11/16/1972 (I'd like to celebrate it with you all this year!)
My doctor until June 6: Dr. Effie Petersdorf.
My doctor after June 6 until July: Dr. Done
My bone marrow coordinator or Certified Search specilist Unrelated Donors: Greg Higgins
Greg's Info: Tele 800.804.8824
Fax 206.288.1011
email: ghiggins@seattlecca.org
Several of you have asked some really good questions regarding becoming a donor. I will meet with Dr. Petersdorf on Monday and will ask them then. In the meantime, check bonemarrow.org for information. I'm too exhausted to do too much. That said, if you find something good I'll post it.
Such as, Susan's latest email to me:
It is also important to know that there are 2 types of donation procedures. One, as mentioned, is via blood - similar to a blood donation. The other is done with general or local anesthetic while marrow is removed from your pelvis/hip bone. This second procedure is quite safe, but obviously more involved than simply drawing blood. It is not uncommon to have some back pain for a few days after the donation.
Please think long and hard about Option 2 and becoming a registered donor. They really do not want people to register and then opt out when asked to follow through. My respect to all who choose this option.
Option 1 is much more expensive, but you receive the results and therefore will know your marrow "type". This is valuable for many reasons - helping someone in the future AND knowing your own type. Also - I can chose to whom I donate. Something I pondered quite a while on my daily run. There are many ethical questions about saving a life and what it takes to do that. Giving blood saves lives, I've been a regular blood donor ever since I turned 18 - but the process is very routine with close to zero consequences. I chose Option 1.
Blood Education
Every other day it's like gambling...only the stakes are so much higher. I pray that today is the today that my Blood Numbers are going to turn around....that they are going to go in the correct direction towards recovery. Every other day....I hold my breath when I get my numbers. So far they continually decline after I get a transfusion of red blood or platelets. Let's collectively pray that the go the other direction by, say, Monday? I am beginning to show a reaction to the platelet transfusions, which is not a good sign at all. At some point, theoretically, the body will reject the transfusions entirely and then a person is, well, dead. That's the rush on finding a donor!
DATE: 5/21/2010 MY #s NORMAL units
WBC white blood cells 0.89 4.3-10 thou/uL
RBC red blood cells 3.9 3.8-5.0 mil/uL
Hemoglobin 11.1 11.5-15.5 g/dL
Hematocrit 32 36-45%
Platelet Count 39 150-400 thou/uL
Neutraphils (immunity) 0.01 1.8-7.0 thou/uL
The following defnitions were taken verbatum from http://www.medicinenet.com/:
White blood cells are the infection-fighting cells in the blood and are distinct from the red (oxygen-carrying) blood cells known as erythrocytes. There are different types of white blood cells, including neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes; PMNs), band cells (slightly immature neutrophils), T-type lymphocytes (T cells), B-type lymphocytes (B cells), monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. All the types of white blood cells are reflected in the white blood cell count.
Red blood cell: The blood cell that carries oxygen.
Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
The hematocrit is the proportion, by volume, of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The hematocrit (hct) is expressed as a percentage. For example, an hematocrit of 25% means that there are 25 milliliters of red blood cells in 100 milliliters of blood.
Platelet: An irregular, disc-shaped element in the blood that assists in blood clotting. During normal blood clotting, the platelets clump together (aggregate). Although platelets are often classed as blood cells, they are actually fragments of large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes. Platelet count: The calculated number of platelets in a volume of blood, usually expressed as platelets per cubic millimeter (cmm) of whole blood.
Neutrophil: A type of white blood cell, specifically a form of granulocyte, filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest microorganisms it has engulfed by phagocytosis.
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