The National Marrow Donor Program is doing a "marrowthon" through June 22, allowing you to join the registry for free. The prerequisites are fairly lax, so I was able to sign up and will be swabbin' as soon as the kit arrives at the house. I also used the opportunity to register as an organ donor (here's the link for Texas and here's the general US link).
I used to donate blood on a regular basis, but am no longer eligible because of having lived in Europe too long (stupid mad cow disease). Luckily the marrow prerequisites aren't as strict.
I can see why people might be squeamish about donating blood or marrow, but I don't see why anyone would not be willing to be an organ donor. I mean, by the time you become a donation candidate, you really don't care, do you?
I have friends and family who received donated tissue and blood. I also have friends who, tragically, did not get to, due to a shortage organs. Please if you can, do sign up.
I used to donate blood on a regular basis, but am no longer eligible because of having lived in Europe too long (stupid mad cow disease). Luckily the marrow prerequisites aren't as strict.
I can see why people might be squeamish about donating blood or marrow, but I don't see why anyone would not be willing to be an organ donor. I mean, by the time you become a donation candidate, you really don't care, do you?
I have friends and family who received donated tissue and blood. I also have friends who, tragically, did not get to, due to a shortage organs. Please if you can, do sign up.
For the last couple of months, we've been playing the "hold-your-breath while driving past a cemetery" games. It's something Jennifer started and Magda has recently really gotten into it and is starting to be quite aware of the cemeteries in the local area.
So the other day we're driving and Jfer and I are talking about funerals or something and mentioning someone getting buried at a cemetery. And from the back seat Magda pipes up with an incredulous voice: "They do what at cemeteries!?! Bury dead people? That's crazy!" Turns out we never mentioned what a cemetery is for -- beside holding your breath while you pass it, that is.
Today, Jennifer is with the kids in Wichita Falls, attending the funeral of a family friend. This will be Magda's first funeral, and last night was an open-casket memorial service. Apparently Magda wanted to go by the coffin a couple of times, mainly because she'd "never seen a real cowboy before" (the deceased had cattle and loved his horses and Magda's a big fan of Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
). I'm sorry I'm missing her experience, but I anticipate there being quite a bit of death talk around the house in the coming weeks.
So the other day we're driving and Jfer and I are talking about funerals or something and mentioning someone getting buried at a cemetery. And from the back seat Magda pipes up with an incredulous voice: "They do what at cemeteries!?! Bury dead people? That's crazy!" Turns out we never mentioned what a cemetery is for -- beside holding your breath while you pass it, that is.
Today, Jennifer is with the kids in Wichita Falls, attending the funeral of a family friend. This will be Magda's first funeral, and last night was an open-casket memorial service. Apparently Magda wanted to go by the coffin a couple of times, mainly because she'd "never seen a real cowboy before" (the deceased had cattle and loved his horses and Magda's a big fan of Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
). I'm sorry I'm missing her experience, but I anticipate there being quite a bit of death talk around the house in the coming weeks.
