My move to the West Coast has meant spending most of my time seeing doctors. A good bone marrow transplant demands preparation. But when there is some down time, it’s spent with my caregiver. She’s the only person I know out here. She’s also my mother. She has a thing for asking me questions about [...]
It’s been awhile since I offered an update of what’s going on with my health. Last time, I told you my bone marrow accomplished something. Turns out it wasn’t anything worth bragging about.
Two days ago I moved cross country. Moved into an apartment complex that’s population is entirely made up of transplant patients and their [...]
Seun Adebiyi is 26 and has an Ivy League education. He has a great job and a a shot at being an Olympian in 2014. Adebiyi has cancer. Lymphoblastic lymphoma and stem-cell leukemia, the cure is a stem cell transplant. For now Adebiyi has not been able to find a bone marrow match and has [...]
In October I posted my letter of appeal after Blue Cross Blue Shield’s told me it would not cover my bone marrow donor search. After hearing no response for several weeks I resent the letter certified and finally heard back. The verdict was…there was no verdict.
My appeal was not reviewed because I did not provide [...]
Researchers have for the first time performed a successful bone marrow transplant to cure sickle cell disease in adults, according to the Los Angeles Times. The team reported it has developed a much-less-toxic transplant procedure and used it to cure nine of the first 10 patients studied.
The hereditary disorder primarily effects those of African [...]
Here’s a short feature on Matt Fioretti at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance website. Fioretti, a mountain climber and guide, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia a short time after leading a climb along Nirekha Peak, in the Himalayas.
When reflecting on the bone marrow transplant he eventually underwent he says, “My attitude was good. There were [...]
Its been 140 days since ATG treatment, and as of now it has been unsuccessful. The treatment is based in the thought that aplastic anemia is an autoimmune disease—the bodies white blood cells have attacked it’s bone marrow, causing the marrow to fail and blood production to diminish. Since onset I’ve heard a variety of numbers [...]
I check my e-mail often. Once, twice, fifteen times a day. My messages are always read in the order they’re received.
The first is from an old friend who wants to do know what they can do to help. Anything, they write, really anything you need. They ask me how I’m feeling, if I think I’m [...]
As I start hearing the words “bone marrow transplant” more and more, I also hear more and more ignorance as to what it actually means to be a bone marrow donor. The following information was collected directly from marrow.org, the National Marrow Donor Program website and my own personal experience undergoing a bone marrow biopsy [...]
As I’ve mentioned in the past, my insurance company will not cover the search for a bone marrow donor.
On Oct.13 they sent an official letter of denial, describing the “search and cell acquisition as a non-covered incidental.”
I’ve responded with a letter of appeal. My expectation is they will issue a more formal denial from the [...]
A. Anemia News
