safely through the next few months and to a permanent state of remission.
The goal is to re-stimulate GVHD by using fresh cells from this angel in Germany and hope that it works. It’s called a donor lymphocyte infusion.
We hope he’s still alive. We hope we can find him. We hope he agrees to save her life a second time.
If it fails – or he is unable to come through – we would need to find another donor somewhere else in the world to save her life this winter with a second bone marrow transplant from another donor.
The doctors will not administer a bone marrow transplant a second time from the same donor in Germany.
Coincidentally, the doctors are scrubbing the international bone marrow registry again for more potential matches. She had two perfect matches in April 2014. The doctors told me that we’d see if all of our hard work in swabbing via #GiveASpit and There Goes My Hero over the last 18 months had produced more matches for Jenn.
Her doctor said: “We’ll literally see the fruits of your labor.”
8
We will know more this week about her original donor in Germany and whether there are more new folks who match her DNA.
It would be a stretch to say that her docs are “optimistic” but they’re certainly hopeful and have seen this method work in other cases. I would classify her medical team as “cautiously upbeat” but we’re dealing with many complicated issues, including her Type 1 diabetes that somehow didn’t have a dramatic effect the first time she had leukemia. She also didn’t have any massive medical issues – heart, lungs, renal, etc. – the first time around.
So this is where we are on my birthday, October 14.
We’re doing our best to get Jennifer Ford Aparicio to the safe side of the street and it’s going to take a lot of perfect storms and manipulation the second time.
We sincerely appreciate all of the love, care and interest we’ve received from thousands of family, friends and complete strangers who have sent words of encouragement and support.
It has once again restored our faith in the world and humanity – the kind of kindness we’ve experienced.
Everyone wants to “do” something or “send” something or “buy” something and we’ve made two simple requests for anyone who wants to take action in some way to be kind or supportive.
8If there’s one thing that we’ve learned during this journey it’s that “stuff” doesn’t matter to us.
We’re not providing a mailing address and we’d politely urge you to support our mission while you do what you’re already doing: shopping online – especially with the holidays coming!
Instead of buying us something or sending along a kind gift or card, please consider using WWW.GIVEASPIT.COM to support #JennStrong2 and our mission to save other lives.
When we did the 30-30 MLB #GiveASpit Tour this summer, we found an old friend who created a “cause network” using the latest mobile web technology. The mobile device or computer you’re using is the best tool in helping our chosen charity: There Goes My Hero.
So, for all who have asked “how can I help?” or have thrown us a text or note that says “whatever you need” – THIS is what we’d like to request to support her fight.
Actually, we have two formal “asks”:
Get on the bone marrow registry. Encourage anyone and everyone between 18 and 55 and healthy. This is how lives are saved. Period. The next person who could give bone marrow to save her life will come from this pool of generous donors. Be one! Learn more here: deletebloodcancer.org
Please download and use THIS APP: www.giveaspit.com and do your shopping there now and through the holidays.
And while I have your attention and know that you care, here are a few more random, candid …
