offtopic happy news

[iris-linkletter]

wow how incredible a witness you now have. Thank You for sharing this painful but stretching chapter of your life. We tend to take our loved ones for granted thinking there is always later or tomorrow. Don’t wait people don’t wait. Tell them how precious they are to you how wonderful your life is with them in it and let the moments take your breath away as you live them and experience them. God Bless you and may peace be your closest friend this Christmas Season.

[Philippa mcauliffe]

That is very good to hear. Thank goodness he is doing so well. The donor family will be delighted by the news. I just did a school project on organ donation. The rates of donation are very different around the world. The Israelis operate a preferential system whereby those who have been on the donor list themselves get preferential treatment when an organ becomes available when they need one. The English are thinking about the same thing. I think that is fairer. In many countries even if you have signed your licence your relatives can (and often do) refuse to donate after your death even if it was your written wish. So it is not enough to sign – you have to make sure your next of kin will cooperate. And then there are 2 pathways after death which many people are not aware of – brain dead and donation after cardiac death.

[lyn-boundy]

Deb, your post just made my day! I’m so thrilled that everything has worked out for you. I’ve often thought about you over the past weeks and hoped something positive was happening so it’s wonderful to hear your news.

When cancer first touched our family I was in the middle of reading a book many of you may have heard of called ‘Half The Sky’ by Nicholas D Kristoff & Sheryl Wudunn, about the many sufferings of women in the developing world and the one thing that struck me most forcibly was the ways in which science has given us wonders that people in some other countries can only dream of. When you compare Western cancer treatments with the devastation that can be caused by something as simple as a urinary infection in less fortunate countries you can only gasp in amazement at how incredibly lucky we are to live in the place and the time that we do. My best wishes for the future go with you and your family!

[eliza-bourgault]

Dear Deb,

thanks for writing this post. It is good to hear some “good cancer news”. My younger sister is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy against leukaemia. She had tests done a couple of weeks ago to see if she would need a bone marrow transplant, and this week we learnt she didn’t have to get one. That was the best news this week! I have heard that transplants have a slim chance of success, so I am so happy for you, your husband, and your family, that it was successful. Even though my sister’s treatment should go for another long two years, hearing good news like this gives me hope, so thank you.
And also, bravo. For keeping it together during the fight. It takes courage and strength.
Again, thanks for posting this, it brightened my day!

[Sylvia]

Where I worked, one of my blind students had lost her sight to leukemia. Treatments didn’t work, but a bone marrow transplant from her sister did. That was about 20 years ago, and the cancer never recurred.

[deb-l]

Philippa, we have the same rule here, even if you are listed as a donor, your family has to approve it. I don’t think people are aware that often the family can refuse against your wish. I imagine it must be very difficult thing for the family to do when they are grieving. We will get to write a letter to the family thanking them for giving my husband the gift of life.

Lyn, thank you for your support throughout. I’m happy to be able to share a happy outcome. It’s amazing how complex this procedure and after care has been. Very grateful that we have such knowledgable and competent medical professionals. Recovery has been a bumpy ride but luckily the Drs are on top of everything and overall are going in the right direction. Even though we’ve been preparing ourselves for months, the reality hits pretty hard when you experience the seriousness of the impact it has on the human body., and the many complications that can happen. We are so lucky these Drs know what they are doing and are in a first rate hospital.

Eliza, Whether transplant is risky or not depends on many many factors as we learned from the evaluations. Since there are not enough donors, they give them to people that are closest to end stages who have the best survival rate. They don’t do transplants to people that do not have a good chance of surviving, due to the shortage, in the US. I’m happy that your sister doesn’t need one, but I think the medical system really has it figured out when it makes most sense to do the transplants for best chances of survival. Hope all the best for your sisters cure.

Sylvia, thank you for sharing your students story. It confirms by belief in my heart odds and statistics mean nothing when you have faith.

[sherry-lenox]

So happy that I stopped by to see such a heart warming post. Many, many Blessings to you both! Happy Thanksgiving and many more to come!

[jessica-wolff]

Thanks to those of you who let us know that relatives can overturn your wishes like that.

[Sherri Matthew]

Hi all,
A few questions: how is the organ donation covered? Usually by the health insurer or is it largely out of pocket? Which family pays for the donation itself: donor or receiver? Would those expenses be the likely reason (high co-pay) that they might overrule the donor’s wishes? I’ve never looked into this.

[deb-l]

Hi Sheri, transplant is paid for by recipients health insurance. Before being listed (eligible) insurance has to approve. Cost is 2-300,000 so I don’t know what happens if no insurance. I was told that rules vary in the US by state whether the family has to approve. Usually reason for not donating has to do with difficulty with not being comfortable with the concept itself, instinct is to preserve the remains of our loved ones. I was not a donor until this experience because it seems rather gruesome in some ways..but now that I’ve been lucky to have my husbands life saved by someone’s gift, it seems a trivial concern compared to the benefit to the living. It’s not as though I will have any use for my organs once deceased so if they can save someone’s life why base a decision on fear?

[Sherri Matthew]

Hi Deb,

Thanks for replying. I guess I thought donors might be scared off by expenses, esp. with so many folks uninsured right now. Good that you posted the info! I guess one way to counter the fear is to say, in a way, that the loved one continues to live and is thereby helping someone else. The gruesome thing… well, probably anytime you’re getting into serious medical issues that will come up. Somehow you have to make peace with it…

Anyhow, here’s to a Happy Thanksgiving for you and your family and hope you don’t have to travel in any nasty winter storms too far!

[lyn-boundy]

Further to the earlier info that relatives can overturn your wishes, this is why it is so important to discuss the matter with them when you first consider registering and make sure they understand how important this is to you (and, conversely, it may also be your chance to understand how they feel about it too). I registered as a blood, organ and bone marrow donor when I was 18 and my husband was initially not thrilled about the idea (I’m now too old for them to want my bone marrow but you never know about the other bits). I do believe the wishes of the living should always over-ride those of the dead and agreed that he should not feel bad about denying this choice if it would be too hard for him to live with but he has gradually come round to the idea over the years. At least here (UK) there is no problem about who pays because the treatment comes free under the NHS so we have that to be thankful for at least – I would hate to have important medical decisions like these affected by cost.

[diana-lincoln]

I’ve been away from harp column for a long time. What wonderful, joyous news to read! I’m joining everyone else sending the most positive thoughts and prayers for a continued fantastic recovery and many happy, active years together. I too am a donor and have made this wish clear to my family. This is truly a miraculous life giving and life affirming gift that you have received. They say that God only gives you challenges you can deal with. God must think very highly of you and your family. Thank you for taking time to inform and comment on all you’ve been through. You will touch lives that you may never know about. Wishing all the best through out the coming year and always.
Diana L.

[lyn-boundy]

Deb – would you forgive me if I also muscle in with a bit of good news of my own? This just seems like the perfect place to do it.

Although I haven’t wanted to say anything publicly, one or two people here know that my 33-year-old daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer back in March this year. The past nine months have been a nightmare round of chemo, radiotherapy and all the nastiness that goes with that but I’m thrilled to say that everything has gone well. Although she still has another year on drugs of varying sorts we had two wonderful signs of progress this week. The first was when she came to visit without her wig or hat and it is now very clear that the hair that fell out during the chemo is growing back beautifully and looking wonderful – a short crop really suits her.

The second relates to her work. As she was a temp at the time of diagnosis her empoyers were actually allowed to sack her and that was a devastating blow. I suspect the fact of being jobless and the daunting prospect of having to job hunt again after her treatment was over have been the worst parts of the whole thing for her but she has now been offered a job with a former employer who she was very sorry to leave. She will be back at work in the new year, probably starting slowly and working back up to full time. Although 2013 probably counts as our worst year ever as a family it really looks as if 2014 might be amazing! Being able to share in your good news as well, Deb, just makes it even better.

[deb-l]

Lyn, so happy you shared your daughters strength, courage and victories. It sounds like we’ve been on like paths with the cancer treatments in 2013 and hoping the worst is behind us. We are looking forward to 2014 as well! She must be a really amazing person to be able to pick herself up and find a job without being consumed by this struggle. You must be a great Mom to have raised such a brave soul.

[Author]

Posts