How you can help!!!!

It is official! There will be a bone marrow drive in Philadelphia thanks to CLLF, S & L Fellowship, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital! Thank you to everyone involved! Special thanks to Susan and S&L for agreeing to host, Ed for working on flyers, and of course Cammy!!!! Here is the info I have so far, I'll post more as I get more information...

Sunday, September 17th
12:30pm-4:30pm
Vine Street Campus (Chinatown)
11th & Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107-1820
Conference Room.

The exciting thing about this drive, is that there is funding available for HLA typing, which means that everyone is welcome to attend the drive. Yippeeeee!!!!!

For those near U. of Virgina, CLLF is holding a drive...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
9am-4pm
University of Virginia
Newcomb Hall Room 389

For West Coasters, don't forget...
Karin and Bryan, Karin's parents, and their pastor have been working with Anna from A3M to set up a bone marrow drive in the LA area.

September 24
Evangelical Formosen Church East Valley
20625 La Puente Rd
Walnut, CA 91789

For those of you who missed the last PGH drive, STAY TUNED!!! We're working on two back to back drives, either the end of September or the beginning of October. They will both be in the Oakland area.

So how can you help? Well, if you are in an area where there is a drive. Go and register!!!! If you are already registered, or you're ineligible, SPREAD THE WORD! If you are a minority, far from all of the drives, and wanting to register - you should be able contact your local blood bank and register for free. If you are caucasian, you may have to pay a fee to register - BUT many places will waive the fee if you donate a pint of blood at the time of registration. So have a registering party! Grab some buddies, call your local blood bank to make an appointment and go as a group. Could be fun, and you could go out for dinner afterwards and celebrate the fact that you are making a difference!!!!

Since I'm on a roll. :) I'm going to remind all of you about cord blood donations. You can find more information here. If you have already decided to make arrangements for personal storage, that is a personal decision and totally cool. If not, then the umbilical cord and placenta are commonly tossed after birth. Consider making arrangements to donate the blood. It could help save a life! If you will be giving birth in a hospital that is not affiliated with a cord blood bank (for example, Pittsburgh does not have a cord blood bank yet) you may call Cryobanks International, and visit their site for more information. The number is 1-800-869-8608. They accept donations from all over the U.S. You must register between the 28th and 35th week of your pregnancy. Spread the Word!!!!!

I keep saying it, but seriously...SPREAD THE WORD, SPREAD THE WORD, SPREAD THE WORD!!!!! Joe and I are not the only ones praying for a miracle match. And we are not the only ones you should be praying for either. So many people are praying for a match...and the fact is that finding a match is only possible when wonderful people like YOU make the decision to register to be a donor, and then follow through. Yes, I know that God has everything under control. But I also know that I don't always listen to God because of my own personal fears. Joe and I have had so many discussions since his diagnosis, and we strongly believe that God is teaching us more than ever how to face our fears. Not only that, but even as He's lighting a fire under our butts, God is using us to light a fire under everyone else's butt too!!!!! What better way to show love than to give - and in this case, to literally give from within.

We do realize that so very many of you have already registered, are making plans to register, have been helping us with drives, and helping us spread the word. We are so grateful. Words can not express how thankful we are. Honestly. We will be thanking you forever!

Thank you to Liann and Dr. Beasley for the lovely card and gift card. We were so touched to receive such a lovely and generous surprise in the mail. Joe and I often talk about what a great couple you are. We admire and respect the two of you so much and thank you for your love!