Thanks
Hi Roger,
I had a read of your website tonight (found it through mds-foundation.org). You sir, are a source of inspiration to us all. I just wanted to say hang in there man, you gotta keep going with this stuff.
I've made a small donation to your site. It is prohibitive (cost wise) for you to send the bracelet to the UK. Can I ask that maybe you give one to one of your friends/daughters friends or someone on my behalf?
Take care & prayers that you get well,
Don
Seven Oak, Kent United Kingdom
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October 7, 2008
Hello
I saw your forum on the MDS site. I was wondering if you have researched into having a BMT in Canada and if there would tbe considered "Compassionate Grounds".
I have enclosed the email of MDS Centre of Excellence in Toronto, Ontario Canada. They are a very compassionate and dedicated group of highly trained MDS doctors. My father who passed in 2006 with MDS went there, the treatment we received was beyond what anyone could expect. I suggest you contact Dr. Richard Wells, the word "Amazing" cannot begin to describe him. Upon being treated at this institution it prolonged my fathers life by 4 years, he was previously at another hospital being treated by the Head of Hematology. There are doer's and wannabee's this hospital I am sure you will not be disappointed in. On Christmas Eve 2006 when my father was about to be put on comfort measures, Dr. Wells was contacting the hospital and calling me, taking precious time from his family, truly, this man is unbelievable.
His collegue, Dr. Hans Messner, received the Order of Canada for founding the Bone Marrow Registry in 1986 for N. America. It certainly is worth a shot.
Good Luck,
Wendy
Contact: 416-480-5248
email: richard.wells@sunnybrook.ca
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September 30, 2008
Hi Roger,
The last e-mail you sent regarding your bad reaction to the blood transfusion brought tears to my eyes especially the part of the darkness.
I want to ask you are you Catholic?
if yes, have you had a priest come over and visit you? ie: confession, last rites?
I had a pulmonary emboli back in Oct 2004, I'm lucky to have made it.
my cousin asked at the emergency room for a priest, she was afraid I was not going to make it and wante to prepare my soul. Of course, she didn't tell me that, she said it was just a good idea.
And it was, the last rites aren't only for the dying, it's for the sick too. The priest came by 3 days later, but right the next day, the hospital chaplain who happended to be a nun came by, she told me that since she was not a priest, she was not able to perform the last rites, but that she could say a prayer and annoint me with some Holy Oils for the sick.
You know what? of course I wasn't going to wait for a priest, these days there is a shortage of priests. Well, the prayer and the Holy Oil did something to me that I really can not explain, but it felt as if something came over me and I knew I was not alone, that the Lord was with me helping me with my pain.. I wish I could explain it better.
If you're not Catholic, and believe in God have someone come by and pray. This will help your recovery, because with the prayers, you can tell the lord with the help of your chaplain that to please not take you home now. That you are not ready to go yet.
I hope this is of help!
Love
Eugenia
I am so sorry you had to have such a scare. I know it must of been awful for you to be alone, that Dez is your angel on earth. She has always loved you, since she was a baby. I want you to know I am here for you if you need anything. I just don't know what to do; but pray and hope that this will all go away. Keep praying!!!
I love the web site you have done a great job with it. Thanks for sharing with us all!
Never ever think you have not been a wonderful father to Elle. She loves you more than words can say! As she was growing up you never ever missed a time to see her. You seeing her as you did was worth more than any child support payment. I can remember the day you had a fit when she made the decision to go out with friends instead of visit with you. She was growning up and you couldn't take it! The bond you two have is one of a kind.
Take care; and please take care of yourself. Eat right; stop drinking; rest; and take one day at a time. Do the right thing you can't do everything you want right now but in time you will.
Thank you,
Lisa C
October 18, 2008
Oh, Roger - we all will keep you in our prayer. I already have about a dozen bracelets so will let that go.
My husband passed away with MDS in 2000 at age 80. I was diagnosed with MDS (yes - it is a rare
disease - so??) just two years ago. They say it isn't catching, but..... I have been on Aranesp - but it
is no longer working. Will find out more on this coming Monday.
Meanwhile - hang in there.
With warm affection,
Vernette E. Godfrey
Old age isn't for sissies!!
vernette@cruzio.com
Capitola, CA
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Hey Roger,
I was so thankful that Shelley Martinez sent your blog to me. We have kept in touch through the years. I'm sorry to hear of this trial you are going through but you and your family are in my prayers that all goes as well as well can be. I thought I'd share a website of a 14 year old little boy who has osteosarcoma. When I read both blogs, the concerns and the differences of a 14 year old and a 40+ year old seem almost the same. The blog site is www.tylersfriends.blogspot.com Some of us parents put together some fund raisers and they response was overwhelming. The key was finding people who like to organize. At one fund raiser titled Tyler's run/walk, we raised 23,000.00.
By the way, I'm on the bone marrow list as a donor. My hope has always been to help someone in need since I've lost family members to other forms of cancer. I'm also a regular blood donor. I can't do other types of donations because I don't weigh enough and have tiny veins ( I hear this every time a donate and the phlebotomist can't get the needle in my vein - then the expert is called in).
I'll be keeping up with your blog...I believe in the power of prayer and know there's answer out there for you. Take care of your self and let others take care of you too.
Take care and God Bless
Melissa (Lopez) Bowen
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October 1, 2008
I was very touched by your blog. I had no idea that you were going through so much. I am on the bone marrow donation list as a donor and I would love to help you in any way possible. Can I go and be tested as a match for you or do you think they would have let me know already is I was a match since I am on the list?
By the way I am Deborah aka Dark_Fairy on the blog.
I hope to hear from you soon.
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From: R, Rita Dear Shelley I have a check for Roger – if it will help them just a little bit then it will be worth it. We are blessed with so much, and if our prayers, love, and small contributions can help in any way, then God’s will be done on earth is being accomplished. Thank you for sharing, I will go to his Wsite later, meanwhile I will send the check in i/o to you today. Love you…….. I saw your post on the MDS forum. www.transplants.org Have you contacted all the news stations in Houston?? Your family can also set up a fundraiser to raise money Maybe approach a restaurants and see if they will have a fundraiser where for one day or one evening, they will You can put canisters at the registers of all the Walgreens in your area, or all the gas stations. Write up a little something Do you have immediate or extended family that can go out and make a fundraising campaign? Wendy
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 2:08 PM
To: M, Araceli (Shelley)
Rita
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HI Roger.
Get Help Paying For Your Transplant Visit or Call 800-489-3863 for Info
http://www.bmtinfonet.org/resource/index.cfm?Fuseaction=ResourceResults&Group=2
give you the proceeds of what they make that night.. or have someone you know maybe raise money by giving your
the tips one evening from a restaurant. You can approach them as a person in need of a BMT.
about your self and that you need a BMT soon.
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