Things are still well in the Lin household. :) Joe continues to be prone to little mouth sores, which are not at all fun. But other than that, he seems to be doing better. Joe is sleeping through the night, which is good! Yesterday he had a blood draw and a Neulasta injection. Both went well. No transfusions yesterday! A side effect of Neulasta is bone pain and low-grade fevers. So far, Joe isn't experiencing too much of either. Last night he had a temporary low-grade fever and some achiness in his joints, but both were better by this morning. Tonight, some more achiness, but nothing too bad.

To distract himself, Joe has been reading and watching t.v. We also sing...and yesterday...Joe decided to start playing piano again! He took three years of lessons when he was younger. He hasn't played a whole lot since then. But yesterday he decided he needed some extra distraction. It was SO cute to see him sitting at the piano! He's pretty good!

Cammy Lee Leukemia Foundation hooked us up with Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) which is based in Los Angeles. Our friend Karin has offered to help with hosting a drive or two out there. Thanks Karin!!!! And thanks to Karin and Bryan for the lovely care package we got today!!!!! Lots of yummies! Lisa and Louis, our Pittsburgh helpers...their company has a Southern California connection, so they may be able to help too! Very exciting stuff.

As for the drive in Pittsburgh, it's still on! Keep checking back for updates and details. Here's the plan for now.

Bone Marrow Drive set up by Cammy Lee Leukemia Foundation
hosted at
Pittsburgh Chinese Church
8711 Old Perry Highway
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

from 9am-3pm.
(For those who are interested, there will be a combined service that Sunday with the Chinese-speaking congregation and the English-speaking congregation. Service is from 10am-11:30am. Sunday School is from 11:30am-12:30pm.)

It is a minority based drive.

All donors will be required to fill out a confidential donor information and consent form. (Donors must be between the ages of 18-60). The form will ask for:
* Name, DOB, Age, SSN, Sex, and Driver's License Number
* Donor telephone and email information
* Race and Ethnicity information
* Contact info for two close relatives or friends who may know how to reach you if your address changes or you are unable to be contacted.
* A medical evaluation
Donors also fill out a confirmation card.
Then one just needs to do a cheek swab from four areas of the mouth to complete the registration. Remember, even if you are not a match for Joe, you could possibly be a match for someone else who is praying for one!

Joe's match would be giving a PBSC donation. This person would be given an injection of filgrastin (same as the neupogen Joe received!) over five days to increase the number of marrow cells in the blood stream. On day five, the circulating blood is removed from one arm, the blood-forming cells are separated out and the remaining blood is returned to through the other arm! Just like Joe was told, the donor my experience bone pain and other "flu-like symptoms" while receiving the filgrastim. But the side effects go away soon. If Joe can handle it, anybody can!!!!!

If you are able and have not yet registered to be a donor, come on out!!!!! We would be so honored, and all information given is kept confidential. Sometimes it is difficult to realize the importance of giving blood and registering to be a bone marrow donor. The importance has become so real to us, and even us we fight to cure Joe, we want to help fight for all the other Joe's out there who are going through similar situations. Come on now! Let's DO IT!!!!!!