Phil Brabbs and Donating Bone Marrow
Hi all,
I was shocked when I read on mgoblog about Phil Brabbs and his fight with multiple myeloma. When I'm not cheering for Michigan I am a resident physician in the area. Multiple myeloma is one of the most insidious and devastating diseases to see, not only because of the difficulty in treating it, but also because of the co-morbidities that accompany it (bone fractures, weight loss, etc).
For such a young person to have it - let alone a Michigan Man - it feels even worse.
So if you have the time, I strongly encourage you to sign up for the National Marrow Donor Program and help out Brabbs or other people suffering from hematologic diseases. It's incredibly easy - all they do is swab your cheek and then run the tests at their lab to get your HLA-type (a fancy term that categorizes your bone marrow) and then see if you are compatible with anyone who is suffering from multiple myeloma, leukemia, etc. If you are compatible with somebody, they call you and then you go to a local center to have your blood drawn. They then run further testing on your blood to confirm you are a match. If so, you can then decide to donate marrow. Don't worry - no large needle will drill into your bones during this process. Rather, it involves you sitting on a recliner while hooked up to a machine that gently filters your blood. You literally just donate blood. And they might even give you a cookie afterwards.
If you're feeling super-ambitious - and the Michigan community often is - you can even set up a bone marrow donation drive. I've helped set one up, and the good people at the NMDP will come to wherever you are and do all the heavy lifting. If there's any interest at all in the mgoblogging community I'd be willing to help.
A guy from my medical school passed away at a young age from leukemia while waiting on a donor, and many more do every day. So again, I urge you to consider this. It's a small gesture on your part but it literally can save the life of someone.
Thanks for reading and Go Blue! Keep Brabbs in your thoughts/prayers/whatever, just like you did at the end of the Washington game in 2002 (though this time for a totally different reason, yes).
I was shocked when I read on mgoblog about Phil Brabbs and his fight with multiple myeloma. When I'm not cheering for Michigan I am a resident physician in the area. Multiple myeloma is one of the most insidious and devastating diseases to see, not only because of the difficulty in treating it, but also because of the co-morbidities that accompany it (bone fractures, weight loss, etc).
For such a young person to have it - let alone a Michigan Man - it feels even worse.
So if you have the time, I strongly encourage you to sign up for the National Marrow Donor Program and help out Brabbs or other people suffering from hematologic diseases. It's incredibly easy - all they do is swab your cheek and then run the tests at their lab to get your HLA-type (a fancy term that categorizes your bone marrow) and then see if you are compatible with anyone who is suffering from multiple myeloma, leukemia, etc. If you are compatible with somebody, they call you and then you go to a local center to have your blood drawn. They then run further testing on your blood to confirm you are a match. If so, you can then decide to donate marrow. Don't worry - no large needle will drill into your bones during this process. Rather, it involves you sitting on a recliner while hooked up to a machine that gently filters your blood. You literally just donate blood. And they might even give you a cookie afterwards.
If you're feeling super-ambitious - and the Michigan community often is - you can even set up a bone marrow donation drive. I've helped set one up, and the good people at the NMDP will come to wherever you are and do all the heavy lifting. If there's any interest at all in the mgoblogging community I'd be willing to help.
A guy from my medical school passed away at a young age from leukemia while waiting on a donor, and many more do every day. So again, I urge you to consider this. It's a small gesture on your part but it literally can save the life of someone.
Thanks for reading and Go Blue! Keep Brabbs in your thoughts/prayers/whatever, just like you did at the end of the Washington game in 2002 (though this time for a totally different reason, yes).
September 14th, 2009 at 3:50 PM ^
Incredibly easy is almost an understatement, I went to a donation drive a year or two ago. Like the OP said, all you have to do is get your cheek swabbed, and fill out some contact info.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
this is very easy. i've been on the bone marrow donation list since i was 18. every year they send me a form to update my address. that's all there is to it. it is that easy.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
i've been on the list for a couple years. super easy to sign up.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
Brabbs is a class guy, too. I happened to have the privilege of meeting him during undergrad and still bump into him from time to time. He's got a wife and kids. Everyone afflicted with these types of cancers/diseases deserves a chance, but so much the more.
Praying for you, Phil!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:55 PM ^
I've wanted to learn how to do this since reading an article about Aaron Curry and his work with St. Jude. Some of the numbers regarding children with leukemia are staggering, considering how few people are registered for this. So, thank you for reminding me to get off my ass, and letting me know how to do it.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:40 PM ^
Glad to see a lot of people have been doing this/want to do this. I should also mention that although drugs have advanced the life span of people with the disease, especially in recent years, there currently is no real viable option for a cure other than a bone marrow transplant. So spread the word!
September 14th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
After reading this, I am in. It seems super-easy, and it is obviously needed in a big way. Here's hoping P. Brabbs can beat the odds. So sad.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:18 PM ^
I just signed up for this. Thank goodness there was a promo code included when I clicked on the link you provided. As much as this is important, I wasn't going to pay $52 to donate my cells. Sorry, I'm not that charitable. My time, my cells, my marrow- yes. My money- no. Probably gives you a clue to how little money I have.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:28 PM ^
Brabbs is a good guy. Lived next to him freshman year, and he was always a "regular" guy. Cheered so loudly when he beat Washington. I've always done the bone marrow tests, and I encourage everyone else to do it as well. It is simple, and you can help save the life of a good guy.
Comments