What You Can Do to Help

There are a number of things you can do to help individuals with AML and other life threatening illnesses.

Donate Blood
The blood supply in this country was perilously short before the events of September 11. Now, more than ever, consider donating blood. It does not take a lot of time and it can save a life.

I had red blood transfusions every 5 to 10 days for months. To find out if you are eligible and when and where you can donate, contact your local Red Cross or go to:
http://www1.givelife.org

Donate Platelets
The process for collecting platelets is called pheresis and can be usually be done at your local blood bank or Red Cross. It takes a few hours and it can save a life.

I needed platelets every few days for many months. Without them, I might well have bled to death. In some areas of the country, at certain times, platelets are simply not available.

Contact your local Red Cross or go the their web site:
http://www1.givelife.org

Sign Up to be a Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Donor
You can get on the donor registry with just a blood test. You may never be asked to become a donor, but if you are, the donation process is described at the following web sites:
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.redcross.org/donate/tissue

Someone whom I have never met is going to donate stem cells and give me the opportunity to live and to be leukemia free. What an incredible gift!!! Truly the gift of life.

If you are pregnant, plan to donate your newborn's umbilical cord blood
Umbilical cord blood can be used instead of the typical stem cells that are collected from the peripheral blood. And, cord blood seems to create less difficulties of graft rejection even in cases where there is not a perfect match. To learn more:
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/cord

To help me, donate your frequent flier miles.
If you have enough frequent flier miles for a round trip ticket (usually 20,000 or 25,000), consider allowing me to use them for part of my care support team who will be traveling to and from Seattle (primarily from Vermont). USAir and United offer the best connections from Burlington but other carriers may work as well.

If you have miles to donate, please e-mail me your account number and mailing address.