a link is going up on my blog tomorrow morning (maximal traffic).

a link is going up on my blog tomorrow morning (maximal traffic).

thanks, honey. that's wonderful of you.

anyone else want to offer up some virtual real estate?

The people treating this patient will be charging $100K - $200K; perhaps more! How much does the bone marrow donor make? I am with the Libertarians on this one. If the matching donor got $50K for his trouble, we will NOT be having to beg for people to go through the inconvenience...

- A

If the matching donor got $50K for his trouble, we will NOT be having to beg for people to go through the inconvenience...

Oh, wow.

Okay. My head is spinning, but the only two things I need to say are that it (and by it, I mean what I am "begging" people to do- get put in the db)wasn't inconvenient at all-- I got printed at a South Asian event and it took less than five minutes...and who on earth would pony up the $50k? What should poor people with leukemia do? I'm troubled by the idea of considering one's bone marrow or organ as a commodity instead of a donation. *shudder*

I understand that people "donate" in exchange for money (so not really a donation at all, e.g. blood), but this really frustrates me. Why can't people just get registered in the directory? That's all folks are asking for. Not a donation, but a registration. It's relatively non-invasive and saves lives.

All the drives listed on the website are on the west coast... wonder if we can do a drive for Vinay on the east coast - DC, Boston and the like. Don't know too many people in DC but would like to help..

is there any way to help in Toronto Canada?

If you are already registered, now is the time to update your contact information here.

Every south asian convention should have one of these stalls. All it takes is five mins.

guys, please do you best to register. you can also find out more information about drives through the NMDP's south asian branch, SAMAR. it's really important to increase the number of desis in the registry, because you have a better chance of finding a match within your ethnic group, and so far, desis are the lowest registered group percentage-wise. i have been involved in several SAMAR drives, and it is very sad that lots of desis are so apathetic to this situation. though, in my opinion, the younger lot are for more willing to register, so i am glad it's on this blog. thanks for posting about this, anna!

Anna

Thanks a gahzillion for mentioning this on Sepia Mutiny. You rock!

I understand that people "donate" in exchange for money (so not really a donation at all, e.g. blood), but this really frustrates me. Why can't people just get registered in the directory?

For those on the registry, there must be a commitment to donate if there is a match. It is not "please just register", I hope none of you spin it this way to boost up numbers. It is more heartbreaking to find a donor who chickens out. Secondly, a donation is not like a blood donation, it involves considerable time investment from the donor and involves surgery. Finally, to register, most places charge the donor---and if there is a match, it may impose significant financial burden on the donor as well.

It is therefore a personal choice for many, you should not guilt people into doing this. Paying donors is not really far fetched, I would not mind paying the donor. In fact, it can be made more systematic---one could envision a form of insurance to pay donors.

South Asian numbers are low since non-SA's outnumber SA's by about 150:1. It is tragic, but the way out is a more global marrow program.

and involves surgery

unless you go the pbsc route.

time investment from the donor and involves surgery. Finally, to register, most places charge the donor---and if there is a match, it may impose significant financial burden on the donor as well.

Hold up, wait a minute-- it cost me NOTHING to register. I have never heard of a charge to do so at a drive. Does anyone have more information before we scare off the desperately needed and potentially interested?

I was also under the impression that all costs for the donor are taken care of? I mean, you're right, no one should be guilted in to doing anything, but I don't think it's as dire as your comment makes it seem either. If you believe in seva, is there any greater way to offer it?

For those on the registry, there must be a commitment to donate if there is a match. It is not "please just register", I hope none of you spin it this way to boost up numbers.

Guys-
I have a question. I have registered in the past, but now I realize that I was placed into the general bank of donors. Is there a South Asian donor bank to up the possibility that a match is found? Also, after reading this post I realized that I missed a Chicago donor drive that just happened this morning! If anyone knows of how I can go about doing this in Chicago, please let me know. And thanks A N N A for bringing this to our attention.

Can we register if we live in Canada? Anyone know? Must be some agreement in place.

For Canadians, you can register as follows: https://www.blood.ca/Web/cbswebforms.nsf/page/E_ubmdrPKG-intro?opendocument

Canadian Blood Services does matches for patients around the world.

DQ, thank you so much for finding that out. I'm sure many people will be grateful for the information since for every one person who actually asks about this, there are ten others who are lurking, etc.

i plan to go to one of the west coast blood drives this weekend. i talked to friends and relatives and forwarded them the links to this and vinay's page. they've sent it out to lists that are read by hundreds of south indians. god knows (no pun intended) we iyengars are all related somehow, so hopefully a match can be found.

this is totally uncanny. I was set up with this girl, sort of, in 2002. Wow. talk about small world. This is totally, completely not a joke. Im completely clueless about how this works, what actually happens, you get swabbed at a center? and it goes into some national database? how do you support him directly?

i talked to friends and relatives and forwarded them the links to this and vinay's page. they've sent it out to lists that are read by hundreds of south indians.

Oh, what a wonderful thing. :)

god knows (no pun intended) we iyengars are all related somehow, so hopefully a match can be found.

That's exactly why I sent it to my closest TamBram friends, after guessing that Vinay might be one of their own...I don't know anything about how this works (that's what Razib and KT are for) but I guessed that maybe he'd have an even greater chance with someone even more like him? I'm just glad people are willing to get involved. This could be any of us.

HMF, these days the actual registration process is simple - you go to a drive/center, fill out some detailed information (i think even if it is not a south asian-focused drive, you can indicate your ethnicity) and they take a swab from the inside of your cheek. i think these days you are also given an ID card. the bigger commitment is if you match up with a donee - if everything matches up, they remove your marrow (i think from your spine) and transplant it to the donee. this is the part that usually scares people off - but it's a worthy cause, and the hospital stay, and pain, is generally under a week.

they note your ethnicity upon registration - but your marrow still goes into a national database. it is just more likely that donees will find matches within their own ethnicity. but theere have been cases of e.g. caucasians donating to desis, and other cross-ethnic matches.

It breaks my heart to see people suffer like this. I really do hope he finds a match and will be able to live with his beautiful wife for so many yrs.
28 yrs? That's my age.
Now you know why i can't work in an Onc unit. i just can't watch this :(

I don't know anything about how this works (that's what Razib and KT are for)

pretty simple, tissue matches are not either/or from what i recall, they try to match as closely as possible but sometimes that doesn't work. the loci in question involve HLA. it works like this, two genes

HLA 1 and HLA2

they come in many, many, flavors, so

HLA-1 (a-z) and HLA2 (a-z)

so, you can get as many combinations possible across the two. humans are diploid so we have two copies, so

HLA-1 (a-z) and HLA2 (a-z) copy 1
HLA-1 (a-z) and HLA2 (a-z) copy 2

you want people to match up flavors. this is a really diverse genetic location, so even with siblings good matches are like 1/3 from what i recall. differently populations have different proportions of the a-z flavors, so of course the combinations will be present at radically different frequencies. this is why i have noted that biracial children are problematic, they get copies from both parents, so they might very unique (i.e., that's why there was a case of a half-thai half-white kid going to thailand, that combo is not uncommon there).

Re: Anna's comment #4 from May 30, 7:42 PM
(http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/004470.html#comment140186)

Maybe I wrote hastily. Let me try to clarify just one time.

If a matching donor got $50K for donating bone marrow, it will be a nice win for the donor. To get in the running for that win, there will be millions of people registering all over. It will solve the problem that everybody writes about: not enough registered and willing donors. I was not saying they should be paid for registering, which they will have to do to win the donor fee. This is my proposed solution. Economic incentives are a powerful motivator. Much more so than this appeals business. What are the doctors and hospitals charging for the procedure? Go find out; it will be eye-popping.

I may still go and register in Fremont, CA. I live there. But I hesitate as the actual procedure to extract bone marrow is not painless, and said to be quite involved. And potentially risky, too. And it will likely cost me half a day of vacation. So I have heard. So, given that I have 3 other mouths to feed all by myself, and nothing to look forward to except psychic rewards, it is a very hard choice. I would like to do it, but this "seva" business does not pay the rent. That is my harsh reality.

As for cost, once the donor fee becomes a "reasonable and customary expense" it will be paid for the same way the entire operation is paid for.

Amar, the problem with payments for organs is the potential for exploitation. This is why organ sales are banned, and the same issue exists with a "renewable" resource like bone marrow. There is also a danger that you will encourage high risk behavior like repeatedly donating such a resource (blood, marrow etc.) to feed other habits.

I don't disagree with your economic argument, but the flip side is a concern too.

If we're ineligible to donate bone marrow (I lived in the UK during the BSE scare), is there something else we can do to help? I am moved by Vinay's plight, and I pray he finds a match soon.

I will register all the same though...if they turn me down, then oh well.

Anna, thank you SO MUCH for posting this. Vinay is my first cousin, and is a dear, dear person to me. I am planning on holding one, if not many, drives in the Houston area. Please contact me if you are in Houston, or anywhere in Texas, and would like to help, at roopa.vasan@gmail.com . And all you people I know are involved with sepiamutiny - Abhi, this means you! :) - I will keep you posted about upcoming Houston drives. Thanks guys.

Also, in response to :

Amar: I may still go and register in Fremont, CA. I live there. But I hesitate . . . I would like to do it, but this "seva" business does not pay the rent. That is my harsh reality.

PLEASE go and register. If you do so at one of the drives in the Bay Area, which my family and family friends are running, it is absolutely positively FREE. AND it only takes about ten minutes. They just ask a few questions about your medical history and swab your mouth with a q-tip. Just because you are on the registry does not mean that you will have to go through the process of donating bone marrow. It just increases the chance that someone will find a match. If someone on the registry is found to be a match, they are asked if they are willing to donate. So even if you are a match, you will have the choice in the future to donate or not. In the chance that you will change your mind . . . just take this one small step. Please.

AS FOR PAYING TO GET ON THE REGISTRY: if you walk into one of the bone marrow registry centers OR attend a bone marrow drive, registration should be free. But if you go through the website (www.bonemarrow.org) and register, they will have to send you a kit..and you will have to pay around $55.

I will keep everyone posted about Houston drives I set up. And if sepia could post that information when it comes available, I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks.

Hold up, wait a minute-- it cost me NOTHING to register. I have never heard of a charge to do so at a drive. Does anyone have more information before we scare off the desperately needed and potentially interested?

not true. i didn't pay anything, because the sponsor paid for all of us (small lab in a univ). otherwise it varies from $50 to $100.

Apologies, I didn't realize registry required a donation in the case of a match. I still think it is worth it, despite the big honking needle if you do match, but better to register when you know the whole story. Thanks, bytewords. :)

*NO NO* i didn't mean you are obligated. But typically, the family which gets the match is unlikely to get another. So you will really hurt them more if you refuse. Some donation centers are more careful than others---they do not let any contact between the donor and the patient for a long time even after the donation. But many do not follow this in reality. I have had a friend who was informed of a match, which the would be donor did not go through.

if everything matches up, they remove your marrow (i think from your spine) and transplant it to the donee.

There is a new option where they put you on drugs to increase some cell count, and take blood (?) out of you. Not to say it is painless---there is significant pain involved, but it does not involve surgery.

My brother's planning a drive in the New York area. Will let ya'll know once he figures out a time and place.

I was also under the impression that all costs for the donor are taken care of?

Time lost in work (could go on to month+) is not compensated.

Please read this:

Factors to Consider Before Joining

not true. i didn't pay anything, because the sponsor paid for all of us (small lab in a univ). otherwise it varies from $50 to $100.

True, but that is still an infinitesimally insignificant cost when compared to the benefit of knowing you may have saved someone's life. I'll be at the SJ drive on the 2nd- I hope to see some of you guys there.

I hope everything will work out well for the young man and that he gets back to excellent health with his wife.

Many thanks to Sepia Mutiny for bringing attention to this very important issue. I needed this reminder to get tested to see if I am a match for him or anyone else in need of a bone marrow donation!

True, but that is still an infinitesimally insignificant cost when compared to the benefit of knowing you may have saved someone's life.

Personally I agree with you---though the cost I mentioned is not the $100 here, but the cost of not being able to work, or not being able to resume normal activities for sometime after the donation.

The thing is, not everyone is aware of all this, and they cause tremendous heartbreak by signing up as if it is a blood donation drive. I would rather have informed people on the registry than people who sign up due to pressure.

@25, Amar

I may still go and register in Fremont, CA. I live there. But I hesitate as the actual procedure to extract bone marrow is not painless, and said to be quite involved. And potentially risky, too.

It is *not* risky to any significant extent. Please don't think that is a factor. It involves pain, true, but nothing that is persistent. And I repeat, it is *NOT* risky for the donor. Despite this, you are automatically insured for any complications that may arise. Therefore the risk factor should *not* govern your decision.

And just to clarify: I am all for people registering, in fact I volunteered in arranging a marrow drive in my campus. I am a registered donor myself for the last few years now.

I have also seen the other side: people who have signed up but chicken out. This is *not* a small thing---it causes several problems (i) firstly, the families---if they are informed of the match before you chicken out---are devastated (ii) more importantly, you may cause a lot of wasted time (if the search stops, as I think it does if there is a match) which in turn may have cost the life of the patient.

Therefore, I say---and a doctor involved, if any, in the marrow drive will also tell you---please think of it as a commitment to donate if you are a match. Don't refuse later, to the fullest extent possible. Act promptly if you are a match---don't waste time considering the pros and cons then. Keep your contact info updated, think of all this as a responsibility.

Thanks for the clarification, bytewords. I also assumed that the process was similar to blood donation. Here's a helpful basic marrow donation overview, with a link to a more advanced explanation of the procedure.

@39:

Thanks for the clarification, bytewords.

But please seriously consider registering yourself. It is some amount of demand on you, but you will save a life. It is still worth it all---no, in fact, it is more than worth it all. There is no long term risk you need to be very concerned about on your behalf, but you will give someone a longer life.

Just familiarize yourself with the procedure and today, you may be able to donate without surgery. Keep your info updated.

I am a registered donor myself for the last few years now.

...few months now. I registered last year.

Upcoming donor drives in different states are listed here
http://www.marrow.org/ABOUT/NMDP_Network/Donor_Centers/US_Donor_Centers/dc_list_by_state.pl

I donated blood to the Red Cross here in Adelaide, Australia on 20-04-07 so I should be on the bone marrow donors list. If I'm not, I'll, join myself up. The Red Cross here (don't know abt other countries), is connected to the Australian Bone Marrow Donor registry, which i believe (from looking at their website) searches through the world wide database.

Hopefully, someone will be lucky enough to have the privilege of saving a life.

Every south asian convention should have one of these stalls. All it takes is five mins.

voiceinthehead -- great idea. I know most of us have at some point gone to those American Association conventions, what would it be like if we got in touch with those groups and encouraged them to include a bone marrow drive booth among the many booths they have at these things?

My father is involved with the American Telugu Association, so I emailed him this post and asked him to help me get the ball rolling on that. Maybe we can all start something like that with the groups of our respective languages?

Anna--thanks for posting. Was just about to email you & ask [same]. I keep trying to express in words to people how small yet ever-so-monumental it is for people (esp. SM readers!!) to get registered.

I live in Baltimore and would love to organize a D.C.-Metro area drive. I haven't lived here very long though, so I need help/contacts/ideas/people-power. If anyone can offer even 20 min of talk-time, we can pull this together. We can find a match.

Folks are always asking what they can do to "make a difference" in this world. A suggestion: save a life.

Please email me - indiaseema@hotmail.com

Has anybody here donated marrow or known somebody who does? Can you describe what it exactly is like? I've seen the link on extraction from pelvic bone etc. but wanted to see if there's a first-hand/second-hand opinion out here.

Seema, I'm interested in helping however I can. I wonder what location we could choose in this area, to get the largest number of volunteers. Perhaps outer red-line/MoCo suburbs? While a bunch of us live in the city, every meetup, more and more people drive in from that part of Maryland (or beyond, like Columbia). Let's figure this out. :)

Is it safe for a pregnant woman to donate? Should a pregnant woman or woman who is trying to conceive not register until after birth?

Is it safe for a pregnant woman to donate? Should a pregnant woman or woman who is trying to conceive not register until after birth?

Actually, isn't there a need for cord blood wrt this? If so, that's an important bit of information to put out there, for pregnant women. Is there a doctor in the house with more details?

Seshu, Roopa

Last year I got a similar email request for joining a registry on behalf of a desi kid diagnosed with AML. The email also requested cord blood (from the placenta). By a great coincidence a desi friend was pregnant and about to deliver in less than a couple of weeks. I forwarded the email to her and she got in touch with the family and sent off the cord blood after she delivered. We are not sure it has worked at this point as we haven't heard back.

Is that something that would work for your cousin or is that the last resort when they cannot find a matching donor? I'm not sure at all on the details of this.

I have been registered for years and feel so much saddness when I see these stories.

sp

Pregnant women can sign up with a cord blood registry shortly after birth (with the Natl Cord Blood Program, for example, and I'm told there are various uses for cord blood that make this a very useful form of registration.

I was at a recent marrow registration drive which involved only a cheek swab, and apparently, pregnant women were free to register, although you could stipulate that you did not want to be a donor (if you were a match) until after your delivery.

I find this beyond heart breaking. My husband and I are going to a drive next weekend. I can't imagine my husband having leukemia. I know that I would do everything in my power to find him a match.

Thank you for posting this.

Anna:

Thanks for the shout. Yes, let's figure this out--Vinay deserves it. I only recently moved to Baltimore so I'm not that familiar with the area. But I do know there are densely-packed areas/regions of brown folk in Columbia, Ellicott City, Burtonsville, Germantown, etc. And I'm sure there are other Cerritos/Fremont-type cities also? You mentioned "outer Red Line suburbs"--does that mean Shady Grove & north thereof? An idea: we enlist even just 2 or 3 "representatives" from each of these desi-laden suburbs/communities--folks who have parents/family in the area and they can, in turn, round up folks to attend a drive next weekend (say, at Chinmaya Mission MD and/or other area religious houses (mosques, temples, etc.)).

I'll start putting out calls to folks I know that are from this area. Anna, I'll try contacting you off-blog via your blog (or, email me at indiaseema@hotmail.com)? Maybe we can have a quick organizing meeting this weekend and pull together something for June 8-10 weekend?

I've never felt such a sense of urgency and desperation in my life. Your post was so on point: this could just as well be my brother, my son, my partner. And Vinay is my BOY. We lived in the dorms together freshman year (he was on the all-guys floor just below me; I frequented it often :) ). He deserves a shot at being the amazing doctor he's going to be--we've gotta help him do that.

My mom called me this morning. The NMDP called home because my father was just tagged as a match for another person in need of a transplant. The possibility of saving someone's life is closer within reach than we know. For anyone who doubts the power or possibility of finding a needle in a haystack, trust me. You could be a match. One cheek swab and you could save Vinay's life.

Has anybody here donated marrow or known somebody who does?

I have donated. For adults these days it PBSC donation is what is needed. Which is exactly like they describe in the NMDP's website.

I am at rajChaudhary@yahoo.com if anyone wants more information about PBSC.

Vinay's brother Bharath just emailed me this link: www.matchpia.org . If you go to the section marked "Donor Drives", there is a phone number (877-206-8800) and an email (info@matchpia.org) that you can contact to help set up a bone marrow registration drive.

Cord blood is just as useful a form of donation as any other. I believe it's just an alternate, and very useful. So let all your pregnant lady friends know, too!

If anyone does organize a drive, PLEASE let me know details so I can get it on Vinay's website. Thanks.

I tried registering: unfortunately, I, along with a lot of DBD's have had jaundice (Hep B) (damm those tasty pani puri's), which makes me "ineligible"

bummer

I tried registering: unfortunately, I, along with a lot of DBD's have had jaundice (Hep B) (damm those tasty pani puri's), which makes me "ineligible"

how do pani puris give you jaundice? that sounds like one nasty pani puri...

I tried registering: unfortunately, I, along with a lot of DBD's have had jaundice (Hep B) (damm those tasty pani puri's), which makes me "ineligible"

bummer

I am DBD, but I haven't had jaundice. However, someone correct me if I am wrong: Hep B and jaundice are not the same afaik. Jaundice is sometimes a symptom of Hep B, while Hep B is a sexually transmitted viral disease of the liver.

So, if I am right, you most probably had jaundice, not Hep B. You may be able to still donate.

Jaundice is sometimes a symptom of Hep B, while Hep B is a sexually transmitted viral disease of the liver.

That said, I would hope a person knows when they've had hep and when they haven't?

True. Hep B is typically sexually transmitted, but there are other modes as well---blood transfusion being one, etc. But I am concerned because of this statement:

I, along with a lot of DBD's have had jaundice (Hep B) (damm those tasty pani puri's)

The usual common jaundice in India is Hep E or A, which is transmitted through contaminated water and food. If you have had jaundice through "pani puri", it is probably not Hep B.

FYI -- there's a bone marrow drive at Stanford tomorrow for anyone who's in the south bay area.

More info on the Stanford bone marrow drive please? What are the dates & times? It's not listed on marrow.org. Is it open to people who aren't Stanford students (I can't imagine it wouldn't be)?

The Stanford blood/bone marrow drive is from 11am to 3pm Friday June 1st on the Stanford campus at White Plaza (around where the bookstore and post office are). I'm not sure why it's not listed on marrow.org...maybe it was set up at the last minute through the hospital?

Oh, and to answer your last question...I'm not a Stanford student either (I'm a staff member though). I'm sure it's open to everyone who wants to register.

Anyone know what the odds of actually being called up are once you register? Are donations anonymous?

I will defnitely register at one of the drives this weekend. I have often thought about doing it, but my apprehension (and ignorance) held me back. But the benefits (perchance save a life?) far outweigh my fears. Especally, when I see this young, vibrant couple, whose dreams and aspirations have not yet been fulfilled.

Also, contrary to what some are saying, I feel that one should not register in this database if one is not committed to going all the way. Can you imagine the devastaion that recipients and their loved ones would feel if a potential match backed out at the last minute? So close and yet...

@RitaC #67:

I agree. It is what I have been saying as well. People who don't realize what they are up to before registering will get so suspicious once they find out the reality that they will drop out. On the other hand, I also think that giving a realistic picture of the whole thing may cause some people to think twice, but most will go ahead and register anyway---it is still just an (significant) inconvenience to the donor, but nothing more. When time comes, they don't feel as apprehensive and are probably more likely to go through with the donation.

I just want to make a point and stuff

Life balances out, it's like bizarre and stuff, becasue the guy here is so lucky becuz he gets to sleep with such a hot chick
and boink her every night, butthen hes lyk totally unlucky becuz he has this disease I hope he gets better, but its fnny how lif
kinda totally balnces out.

Knda weird

Hey Monster

It must be nice for losers like you to have the internet to maintain your anonymity. It took me 30 whole seconds to struggle with the fact that you think leukemia affecting a guy with a hot wife is a sign of balance. Balance? Brother, I see it now. Your cyborg ass is gonna reproduce like there's no tomorrow, providing the earth with generations of fucked up insecure shit talkin losers. Meanwhile the rest of us struggle to do something constructive to counteract the chaos that is the reality of what we're livin.

Do us a favor- go get 'boinked', wouldja? Would save the rest of us from your toxicity.

& next time, have the balls to sign your name to words that have the power to wound, or better yet, just think before you post.

This family's plight, is what prompted a 12 year old leukemia patient, Pat Pedraja, currently not in need of a marrow transplant, to do a nationwide 30 city marrow registration drive tour to register 2007 in 2007.

Pat also raised the funds to cover the tissue typing cost ($52), to ensure all can be added to the national marrow registry who come to a Driving For Donors drive.

Pat exceeded his initial goal of adding 2007 to the marrow registry and now is shooting for 5,000.

For more info go to:
http://www.drivingfordonors.com
http://www.myspace.com/drivingfordonors2007

Marrow Registration Drives
· Denver June 11, 2007
· Seattle June 21, 2007
· Portland June 25, 2007
· Sacramento June 29, 2007
· San Francisco Warped Tour July 1, 2007
· San Francisco July 2, 2007
· Fremont July 6, 2007
· Los Angeles July 9, 2007
· Orange County July 10, 2007
· Las Vegas July 11, 2007
· City of Hope Duarte July 13, 2007
· San Diego July 16, 2007
· Phoenix July 18, 2007
· Dallas July 23, 2007
· San Antonio July 26, 2007
· Houston July 30, 2007
· New Orleans August 1, 2007

save lives from HOME and register HERE!

u cowards, im NOT a bad persyn, insecure or wateva

justryin to explain mylself.

so y delete my note/

u cowards, im NOT a bad persyn, insecure or wateva

justryin to explain mylself.

so y delete my note/

Requests for celebrities' contact info or homework assistance; racist, abusive, illiterate, content-free or commercial comments; personal, non-issue-focused flames; intolerant or anti-secular comments; and long, obscure rants may be deleted.

okay fine, I can write in tightass bookrept english if u want.

I'm not bad, all i said wuz something
good happened to him and something bad too thats all

and wuts so wrong with dat? i siad i hope he gets better.

and if u give him a choice of 2 things, never bee sick at all and hav a fat uglyu wif, or
be sick and get better but still have the hottie wife, what u think h'ed do?

anywy i wsh him and everyone else with the disease good luck.

I believe that "not a monster" is really Donald Rumsfeld with his eloquence sadly diminished by early onset Alzheimer's (jump to "from up there, people look like peaceful ants"). Or maybe he realizes that empathy is not just a river in Egypt, well, not Iraq for sure.

Of course, I meant to say: empathy is just a river in Egypt (no "not").

What happened to the update thread on this topic?

I was wondering about the same thing. I searched for that post several times yesterday.

: What happened to the update thread on this topic?

Well, A N N A's mouth started working before her brain. And when the brain caught up, she decided to pull the post.

does it really matter if she pulled the thread?

NO.

the bottom line is, those who are serious about bone marrow match/donations should DO IT and register.

...much like A N N A's copious posts on this board!

Sorry for being a di*k about this. The tone of that whole post rubbed me SO the wrong way.

Well, A N N A's mouth started working before her brain. And when the brain caught up, she decided to pull the post....

Unless you're A N N A, you really wouldn't know, would you?

The post was pulled because I couldn't monitor and verify all of the things which were being added as "information for donors" in the thread, wrt malaria, countries visited etc. I didn't think it was responsible to leave it up. I also vehemently felt like trolling on that (or THIS) thread was extra evil considering the gravity of the situation. People who claimed to speak for Vinay turned out to not have anything to do with him. That's awful. The best thing to do was remove the post.

We all take care of our own posts, if we can't, we close them. This is a life or death matter. I felt responsible for the potential misinformation.

It may have rubbed you the wrong way, but Vinay, his wife and his friends are fine with what I wrote. So sorry to disappoint you-- you must have had the biggest hate-rection ever when you thought you could smugly criticize me for something so awful.

No it doesn't matter...much like A N N A's copious posts on this board!

well the bottom line is...

south asians need to be more aware of the registry, and being committed donors...

that is all.

forget the tone, ramblings, or the other extraneous stuff you may have to read.
just get to the meat of the matter.
the meat here is bone marrow.
the matter is that it saves lives.