This is a basic schedule for Carol's chemotherapy treatment program which all takes place at Moffitt (a 4 week stay, beginning Tuesday, March 30th):
Day 1: Neupogen (To boost white blood cells)
Days 2-6: Chemotherapy (To attempt to force leukemia blast cells into a remission)
Days 7-28: Recovery period
After this, with a successful remission, she should be able to return home and prepare for her bone marrow transplant.
Today, before a nice long walk and several visits from friends, there was a blood test which showed stable results. Carol should be able to wait until she is at Moffitt on Tuesday before having to receive another transfusion.
I'm still trying to get specific info about donating blood. Thanks again for bearing with me and of course thank you all so much for your support and love!
-Daniel
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It is great to hear about the positive activities and positive attitude. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteDoug
We are thinking of you as Passover begins tonight and as you start on the next step of your journey tommorrow. Our prayers and love go out to you--Lyn and Lonnie
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteThink positive thoughts. Be patient. Good luck. Phyllis Kavett
Here's what I've found out re: either "Direct Donor" for those who have matching blood type (B+)or for those who may wish to do a "directed donation" whereby Carol gets "credit" for the donation, regardless of blood type....
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'll say there is no consistent process across the U.S.,and it is not simple to do this from out of state, but here is my understanding after probing with Red Cross:
1) Carol's physician at Moffitt needs to send Carol's background info to your local Red Cross for out of state donation -- a "tag" will be sent to Red Cross with Carol's info for each person who wishes to donate
2)We need to obtain the fax # where Carol's being treated, and where out of state Red Cross would send a form that Carol needs to sign, allowing each donor for those with B+. wishing to do direct donation specifically to her.
3) You must make appointment at local blood bank to donate blood, and coordinate with your local Red Cross to have a "tag" sent to your blood bank
4) Each region/state has different protocol, so your local Red Cross will have to contact Moffitt to be sure they'll accept their (process adopted by your local Red Cross)
5) There may be processing & shipping fee for direct B+ donation as high as $500 to do out of state -- it may be easier/more cost effective to fly to Tampa !
6) Not every state/regions do "directed donations" where the patient receives the credit for the blood regardless of type being donated. It seems Tampa area/Florida DOES this. It seems that New Jersey/Pennsylvania DO NOT do this anymore.
I will share the contacts I've made, in case you're better able to cut through the "muck & mire" than I was:
Blood Bank Svcs: 800-448-3543
www.pleasegiveblood.org
Red Cross Out of State/Hospital Services (PA/NJ area) - Renee Tucker (handles patients whose last name begins with "G"): 215-451-4957
1-800-give-life -- to make appointment for blood donation
Bottom line seems to me to be:
1) If you can donate blood to general pool, do it
2) If you don't have B+ and your local area allows a "directed donation" in her name, follow (or confirm with local Red Cross) above process.
3)If you have B+ and want to do direct donation to Carol, it may be best to fly to Tampa.
BTW, I meant to post above about blood donation process with sign-off from me, sister Susan in case you all wondered...didn't mean to be anonymous!
ReplyDeleteLove , Susan
Thank you =] we must have been researching at the same time. I am about to post information. The people I talked to said that shipping would cost about $95 and that it may be possible to group the donations for donors that go at the same time. Also, as I will post, types O-, O+, B- and B+ are acceptable as donations according to our local blood bank! Official update is on its way...
ReplyDelete-Daniel