Last year after I received stem cells from my donor Robert, Wade said he would like for us to sponsor a donor drive in Hereford and we finally got to do that last Wednesday! Roberta and Julie from Be The Match came to Hereford from Fort Worth to conduct the drive. Two newspaper articles, 3 radio interviews, lots of flyers, and getting out to talk to people really helped to get people there. There is a misconception about the whole process being very scarey and painful. Hopefully we raised some awareness about the procedures and the need for people to get into the registry. The new age requirement of 18 to 44 years old prevented a lot of people from becoming donors. We ended up getting 49 people registered and a sizable amount of monetary donations raised for Be The Match! For the first donor drive in our community, we were extremely pleased! The bank employees grilled German sausage for free sausage wraps, and each person who registered got a free t-shirt. Being involved with a project like this makes me realize how awesome our community is to show support. I am so grateful to every person who became a donor or contributed money, and to all those who helped in any way with the drive! You could be the one to save a life…just like Robert saved mine!
Jonathan, our first donor!
Julie, yours truly, and Roberta
Wade and Danny after cooking 300 sausages!
Awesome t-shirts!
After I got home that afternoon, I emailed Erin Frazier, my wonderful PA at MD Anderson about some issues I was having. I had quit taking my sirolimus (immune suppressant) about 2 weeks earlier. Dr. Hosing had given me permission to try getting off of the sirolimus since I had already cut back on them for 2 months and had no problems. She told me to get my blood tested every 2 weeks to watch for liver GVHD since I had that problem before. Well….I had GI problems and my blood test showed that my liver function had gotten worse. In fact I was pretty sick by Thursday. So Erin told me to get back on the sirolimus, and I have been feeling better every day. Yay! I will go back to MD Anderson in February for my check up and a bone marrow biopsy and will go from there. I guess I am through with “rushing it”!
My dad and sister Jan, were here for the weekend. We had a great time visiting relatives, friends, family! Here is a picture of my wonderful Daddy with my sweet Grandkids! What a great way to end this post!
Until next time,
Holly
Hollyeasley's Blog 
Holly – Awesome work on your donor drive! Also glad you are feeling better after resuming the sirolimus! Thanks for sharing, Laura
Thank you Laura! Hope things are good there! Keep me posted!
Love you so much my HERO!!
You’re so sweet, Monica! Good luck with your appointment!
Holly,
What a wonderful project and it sounds like so many people did participate! I love the picture of you and the one of your dad and kids.
LOVE
Thank you Rosanna! I can’t wait to talk to you whenever you can be reached on your cell! Love you
Well, Holly I hate I missed the big event. Life has just prevented me from checking my email as often as I should.I am so thankful the match event went so well.!! Stay on those meds as long as necessary to remain healthy! Love you so very much!!!