Step One Complete

12:24pm 12/16/2010

Hi again everyone.

I completed my blood draw today, and while doing it I talked with a few people along the way, while doing it I realized how big this really is.

My day started out a little rough, my son was up at 5:00 Am and let me tell you that made for a sleepy mommy. Well I put on his favorite movie per his request Toy Story. We watched for a little while and then he started to play, so I thought I would lay donw on the couch for a little while and watch tv with him, well that lead to me falling back to sleep.

I woke up at 8:20...making my morning a RUSH around now. I got in the shower, with my mother on the way to pick us up. I am not only irritated that I fell asleep but now I am running late and let me tell you that I HATE to be late. I got ready in a very quick fashion and threw on a tshirt and jeans, got my son ready and my Mom took me to my appt..I was just in time...9:30...

I walked to the counter to "check in" and I advised the receptionist that I was there for a Blood Draw for Bone Marrow Donation Testing, she asked my name and then said "You are Famous around here, we have paper work all over about you" I was amazed I didn't think what I was doing would draw this much attention. On to the waiting room.

I was called back shortly after and asked if I had a "kit" with me, I advised that everything was sent ahead of time and described the box Big and White with a Red puzzle piece logo on the side.

The Nurse went to look for the box, while I was waiting my Mom asked if she should take my son out the cafeteria to wait for me there, not sure how long this would take I agreed.

So I am sitting there in a empty room waiting for the Nurse to come back, she finally did and had a rather large box with her, which contained 8 vials for my blood along with packaging to send the blood out for testing. The Nurse asked what this was for I said testing for Bone Marrow Donation, she asked me if it was for a family member, I told her "No I have no idea who the patient is." She seemed to be a bit taken back, she then asked about how I got involved and I mentioned the procedure I went through with the cheek swabs and such. She seemed very interested, we then continued with some small talk while she filled the all 8 of the vials(this was a very painless procedure, all it felt like was a bee sting).

After my blood was collected I was told by the Nurse that she would put a time on the vials along with her initials and that the carrier was already waiting to take them off for shipping to the Doctor, another nurse peeked her head in the room and said that there were specific ice packs to pack with the blood and they were in the refrigerator. I was so taken back at all the steps taken so far, I can only imagine the funding this takes (click HERE for information on making a Donation to DKMS Americas)

As I was walking out, I was told that they take great care with packages like this because its about saving lives, and I promptly responded with "You all have helped with this and are a part of this process to, for that I thank you." I left feeling like this is way bigger than me, I am just one person in the world and to think that I could possibly be saving the life of another and all the other people involved with this, all the doctors, nurses, carriers as well as many others I hope to meet along the way.

So all in all I am done with this step and waiting for the next one, I emailed Heather today to advise that the blood draw was done successful and that I was awaiting the next steps, she advised me that she would let me know as soon as she hears any new information...so again the Waiting Game begins.