Donor Update

We received the call we have been waiting for.  Here are the facts...

• Gary, mom's brother, is not a match.
• Out of the 20 million people in the National and International bone marrow bank there are two people in the United States that may be a perfect stem cell match for mom.  One person in another country may also be a perfect match, 10 out of 10.
• Insurance has not yet approved U of M to contact these three people.  We are hoping they will grant approval within the day so that mom's social worker can locate these individuals.
• When we went to U of M they typed Dad to see if he and mom had similar enough antigens to test the girls.  Crazy enough, they do.  This means that Jen, Sarah and Kate will be tested if the three perfect matches do not pan out.  There is a chance that one of them could be a 9 out of 10.  We know that they will not be a 10 out of 10, but there is a chance they could be a 9 out of 10.
• We sent my typing (Beth) to a private lab in Seattle when mom was diagnosed at the beginning of June because Chad and I were going through another round of IVF.  We found out yesterday that I am not a match to mom.
• In addition to the three people that could be a perfect match there are an additional six people in the United States that could be a 9 out of 10.  If Jen, Sarah and Kate are a 9 out of 10 they will use their stem cells rather than that of a stranger.

Is this a best case scenario?  No.  It is a worst case scenario?  No.  Please pray that insurance approves the donor search.  Please pray that the three individuals who could be mom's perfect match are willing to do what it takes to donate. 

Once we get the approval from insurance Mom will head to U of M to have her organ functioning tests completed as well as another round of blood work.  Before we left for the cottage mom's blood work stabilized, we were told this could happen.  Hopefully this will be the case again and we have time to search for her donor.

We are soaking in lots of family time, crazy cousin time and the most perfect weather at the lake.

Thank you to all of our family and friends for your support.  We love you all.  If you haven't yet gone online to Be The Match, do it today!  We ordered Chad's kit and it was delivered to our house within a couple of days.  It's so easy!

Beth