Month: May 2015

Onwards and Upwards No. 17

Hello my healing team,

I hope this update finds you well!!

Today, 20 May 2015 is National Myeloma Day.  🎉 Yay happy Myeloma Day friends!!  The first text message I got this morning wishing me happy Myeloma Day put a smile on my face.  The latter part of text even made me laugh………but I cannot share that due to the explicit language used which was understandably derogatory towards cancer. As I sit here, I am a little confused. Am I meant to mourn or celebrate Myeloma Day??

I guess I have good reason to do both.  I can mourn as I think back of the challenges that my family and I have had to overcome, the pain and the anxiety we have endured, the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.  But whilst I can mourn and dwell, I don’t.

Lets be clear. I don’t think that I will throw a party to celebrate today.  There will be no cake or candles. However, I will reflect on the positive aspects of my diagnosis, in particular the positive changes that I have made which include;

• I am now a lot kinder to my mind and my body.
• I work harder to live deliberately.  I focus on what I want more of in my life, and strive to obtain or achieve it.  No more plodding along.
• I appreciate my family more.  Being with them is so important. I have made a conscience decision to be more present.
• I find that I can encourage and influence people. So I now direct this skill to helping others whether it be through raising money for charity, encouraging people to register for donating stem cells, or for encouraging others to inject more ‘wellness’ into their own lives.

So as you can see, there are positives that can come from being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  So can I ask that you embrace these positives with me by making an appointment to donate blood and (at the same time) registering to be a stem cell donor.  http://www.donateblood.com.au

Happy National Myeloma Day!!

Take care.

Geoff

Onwards and Upwards No. 16

Hello my healing team,

I hope this update finds you well!

As I have previously described, I have been going through a process of self review and goal setting.  I want to make sure that I live deliberately and a big part of that is making sure that I can positively impact on the lives of others. Even better, wouldn’t it be just bloody fantastic if I could do something to help save a life!!………. cue the next project for my brothers and I as part of the Brothers Book Club (BBC)!!

Statistics suggest that at some stage in the next 3-10 years, my Cancer levels may rise, and if this occurs, I will need to have another stem cell transplant (previously called a bone marrow transplant). See the photo of me having my last stem cell transplant.  It is planned that for my next transplant, the doctors will give me stem cells from a donor. I am extraordinarily lucky as two of my brothers have been found to be compatible donors for me.  I am amongst the lucky 30% of people that have a family member as my ‘life saver’.  Of the 1000s of people annually that need stem cell transplants, 70% rely on finding a donor through the bone marrow registry.  Sadly, many die waiting for a compatible donor.  This is where you can help.

What we need is more people registered as stem cell donors.  It is an easy process to register. You register when (or just before) you ‘Give Blood’.  It is that simple.  It’s also an easy process to donate stem cells. It is much the same process as giving blood.

You can get more info from here – www.abmdr.org.au

Recently, a good friend found her donor after waiting some time. I have another good friend who has spent the last 12 months waiting. The wait continues.  I figure that if I can influence 100 people to join the registry, one of those people could be a match, and I can say “I made a difference”.

Well you can make a difference too.  You can potentially save a life. Here is how……

RIGHT NOW – find out where your nearest Blood Bank is. Book some time into your diary to give blood.  www.donateblood.com.au

WITHIN TWO WEEKS – give blood.  When you are interviewed by the nurse, ask to be added to the donor registry.  You even get a free biscuit and a drink 😄.

So over the coming months, you will hear from my brothers and I on this topic.  As the Brothers Book Club, we are super keen to make a difference!!  We are super keen to help save a life.

Please help us.  Register now.  I look forward to hearing when you give blood and have joined the registry!

Please feel free to share this and join the push!!

Take care

Geoff