Big Leather Couch

It is funny how random things come together every once in a while...

Monday night we were having a conversation and talking about how we have had a sight brain cramp recently and how our last two posts really should never be counted into the total of our posts as they were ‘throw-aways’ in our mind…

And a suggestion was made on a subject...

Then Tuesday morning as we were shaving and looking in the mirror that conversation was rattling in our head and a spark of light formed in our mind on how to expand on the subject mentioned...

Then we had some time at work, and we went down our list of Favorite Sites and visited each and everyone of you.

We came upon another subject at BEE'S that has been one of our shouts for a few years and then BAM…we realized that all of these subjects worked together…

So, we give you….



Easiest one first.

Do you have a cell phone?

On your cell phone do you have a number listed as home? Maybe, maybe not...what about if you live at home alone?
Your wife or husband or significant other is probably listed….by their name….
What if you do not have one of these people?

Now, what would happen if you were in an accident? Or you suffered a heart attack?

Now imagine you are out on the street or even in another city…the emergency first responders get to you. You are taken to the hospital.
How do they know how to reach your family or emergency contact?

Recently this happened to a man here at work. I do not know him but heard some co-workers talking. One of the things they said was that his wife did not find out for hours, because they had no way of knowing who to call…(it seems eventually they hit the last number redial and got to that person, who got to another person, who got to another person, who got to his wife).

There is a very simple way to avoid this.

Today…right now, program in the number of your emergency contact.

If you have the space, put in two or three and just designate the first one as the DEFAULT NUMBER.

Now this is the important part….label that number/group of numbers ICE

Nothing more….just ICE.

In
Case
of
Emergency

First responders, the police, doctors all know about this and all look for it FIRST on any victim’s cell phone.

Did you do it yet? STOP READING THIS NOW AND DO IT.

Believe me, the people who love you will be glad you did.

Now, tell everyone you know.

Last August we told you the story of our wonderful friend Wade Winter who was taken from us at 53 by Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. If you did not read his tribute, please go HERE.

If you did read it, you might remember that Wade went into remission and then it came back even worse. You might remember that he needed a bone marrow transplant and a number of us TKEs went and got tested. They actually found a donor in the system that matched him. Some stranger…but unfortunately he left us before the procedure could be accomplished.

You know there are many myths about donating bone marrow and being par of the national registry…

MYTH:
Bone marrow donation is painful.
FACT:
Bone marrow donation procedures are done under general or regional anesthesia so the donor experiences no pain during the collection procedure.

MYTH:
Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
FACT:
Bone marrow donation involves transplant of the liquid marrow found inside of the bone. No pieces of bone are removed from the donor. During a surgical procedure in an operating room, special, hollow needles are used to withdraw liquid marrow from the donor's pelvic bones.

MYTH:
No anesthesia is used for bone marrow donation.
FACT:
Bone marrow donation procedures are always done when the donor is under general or regional anesthesia.

MYTH:
All bone marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT:
Some donations involve surgery and some do not. Donors may be asked to donate marrow, which is a surgical procedure, or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in a blood center or outpatient clinic.
PBSC donation involves removing a donor’s blood through a sterile needle in one arm. The blood is passed through a machine that separates out the cells used in transplantation. The remaining blood is returned through the other arm.
The patient’s doctor will decide what type of donation is best for the patient.

MYTH:
Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery process.
FACT:
Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for a few days or longer. Donors also have reported feeling tired and having some discomfort walking. Most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days. Some may take a few weeks before they feel completely recovered.
PBSC donors report varying symptoms including headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia and fatigue. These effects disappear shortly after donating.

MYTH:
Bone marrow donation weakens the donor.
FACT:
A donor's marrow is completely replaced within four to six weeks. After donating, most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days.

Did you know you can do this anytime?

Six simple steps to give you the chance to help save a life….

1. Join the Registry
Anyone age 18 - 60 who meets the health guidelines and is committed to helping any patient in need may join. First, you complete a short health questionnaire and sign a form stating you understand what being on our Registry means. Then you give a small blood sample or swab of cheek cells to be tested for your tissue type, and this information is added to the Registry. (To join now, see Join the Registry.)

2. Stay committed and available
Doctors search our Registry to find a donor whose tissue type matches their patient's. If you are chosen, we will contact you. If you agree to proceed, we will schedule more testing.

3. Attend an information session
We will invite you to to learn about the donation process, risks and side effects. Please feel free to bring a friend or family member to your information session. We will let you know if the doctor has requested a donation of cells from bone marrow or cells from circulating blood (known as a PBSC donation). Then you can decide whether or not to donate.

4. Receive a physical exam
If you agree to donate, you will have a physical exam to discover if donating would pose any special risks to you or the patient.

5. Bone marrow donation
Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure. While you receive anesthesia, doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood.

6. Side effects and recovery
You can expect to feel some soreness in your lower back for a few days or longer. Most donors are back to their normal routine in a few days. Your marrow is completely replaced within four to six weeks.

5A. PBSC Donation
PBSC donation takes place at an apheresis center. To increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream, you will receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days before the collection. Your blood is then removed through a sterile needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. This process is similar to donating plasma. The remaining blood is returned to you.

6A. PBSC Side effects and recovery
You may experience headache or bone or muscle aches for several days before collection, a side effect of the filgrastim injections. These effects disappear shortly after collection.

7. Follow-up
We will follow up with you until you are able to resume normal activity. After that, we will call you annually for long-term follow up.

For more information just go HERE

Simple…painless…live saving….


Finally today…On your driver’s license, have you agreed to be an organ donor?

Did you know that kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines can all be donated when you pass away?
DO YOU REALLY NEED THEM WHEN YOU PASS?

Think about that man with a wife and two kids whose kidneys have failed. By checking that simple box on your drivers license, you might allow him to walk his daughter down the aisle when she marries.

What about the wife and mother who was has a bad heart? Wouldn’t your family feel warm knowing you helped give her the chance to watch her son graduate college someday?

What about your Corneas, middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments?

Did you know that these can be stored in tissue banks and used to restore sight, cover burns, repair hearts, replace veins, and mend damaged connective tissue and cartilage in recipients.
DO YOU REALLY NEED THEM WHEN YOU PASS?

Think about that burn victim who would like to try and resume a normal life. Some of your skin could give them that wish.

How great would it be to know (yes we understand you would be gone, but we truly believe you would know), that you helped give someone the gift of sight?

The stories are many of families meeting those who have received organs from their loved ones and staying in touch forever, knowing their loved one lives on in someone else.

We know there are some who have religious convictions against this and we are not trying to slight you for your beliefs. BUT, if you do not have that type of objection and you have not checked the box, PLEASE do so now, or the next time you renew your license.

Tell your family that you want to be a donor…put a note in your wallet or pocketbook saying you want to be a donor.

We have a card in our wallet that says we want to be a donor. It allows you to put limitations on the organs you want to donate, if you choose.

What about just a blood donation? When was the last time they had a drive at your workplace? The Red Cross will come out and do it on-site.

Grab the phone and call your HR department and ask about it NOW!

Also, did you know that many people donate blood, but there is a huge need for platelets. This is something people do not think about often. Go over to your local Red Cross and ask about donating platelets.

It is safe to donate blood every 56 days and platelets twice in one week up to 24 times a year.

According to the web site OrganDonor.gov, as of yesterday there are 97,121 people awaiting donation's.

There have been 14,224 transplants done from January to September 14th this year alone!

There are ONLY 7,170 donors listed in their database.

If you think about it, that is so very sad.

When we go, we leave our bodies behind. Again, we are not looking to turn this into a religious discussion, but it is a LIFE discussion….

Do you really need all of these organs and tissue to just rot away? Instead of leaving them behind in the ground (or letting them be cremated with your physical self), leave them behind to allow someone a new life…a new hope…a new dream….

Just remember…it could be you lying in that bed waiting…waiting…waiting….

Get Started
1. Register with your state donor registry.
More information on how to register to be a donor in your state. Most states, but not all, have donor registries.

2. Designate your decision on your driver’s license. Do this when you obtain or renew your license.

3. Sign a donor card now. Carry the donor card with you until you can designate your donation decision on your driver’s license or join a donor registry.
You can download a page of eight donor cards to print and sign HERE.

4. Talk to your family now about your donation decision. Help your family understand your wish to be an organ and tissue donor before a crisis occurs. Then they will be prepared to serve as your advocate for donation.

Simple…painless…live saving….


So....now we hope you HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT...

See you tomorrow....