Niece Amy Lyn texted me on the anniversary of her bone marrow donation. I had been thinking about her and her recipient and wondered, like Amy Lyn, whether we would ever learn the identity of the young girl. We were pretty sure that she survived her transplant because the transplant center would notify Amy if she hadn’t – and only if she hadn’t. No news is good news.
Amy seemed a little nervous and hopeful as she began the process of granting permission to share her contact information. Within a short time (especially compared to our almost 2-year wait) she had an email from Ashley, the mother of her recipient, 13-year-old Lesley. Amy shared that first email with me because she knows that we are enjoying seeing the process from the donor side. Ashley says that she and Lesley prayed for Amy, just as we prayed for Nicole before we knew her name. And she reports that "Lesley made it." We're so glad!
We remembered those first contacts with Jeff’s donor, Nicole. It really is very exciting. The gift of life can now be acknowledged without a go-between although you don’t feel that you can ever adequately express the gratitude you feel. Nicole tells us that Jeff’s health – and him living his life - is thanks enough.
Granddaughter Penny likes to list everyone’s injuries, including her own bumps and bruises. “Remember when I fell down your steps… Remember when you fell and broke your nose… Remember when Grandpop’s foot was hurt…” Perhaps she is a future medical professional. I wonder what she will make of Grandpop’s blood being produced by Nicole’s marrow. Her current medical knowledge is in the range of what cartoon character Doc McStuffins could explain using dolls and stuffed animals. The little book Jeff and I wrote for Nicole’s children, The Butterfly and the Carpenter Bee, is useful to show that a far-away stranger can save a life. Bone marrow transplant is a miracle. We look forward to helping Penny and her sisters understand more about that most precious gift of life.
Jeff’s latest labs were good. I like to tell him, “Your BUN looks good, hon.” That is what the kidney specialist tells him (She doesn’t call him “hon”, of course.). He sees a lot of doctors but no big challenges have arisen recently. All good.
