Bruce Butler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can think of no better tribute to Rick Corman
> than, for those of you who are willing and young
> enough, go to your nearest blood bank or Red Cross
> and get yourself put onto the bone marrow
> registry. Then, if you are really brave, sign up
> to donate Platelets.
>
> Bone Marrow and Platelets can only come from
> donors like you and me. It doesn't grow on trees
> and can't be manufactured.
>
> The "hero" that inspired me to do this was a
> Russian, Anatoly Demjanovich Grishchenko. He was a
> hero of the 1986 explosion and radioactive release
> at the Soviet nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in
> the Ukraine. He flew helicopters loaded with
> concrete to dropped into the ruined reactor,
> sealing it and stopping the release of radiation.
> He later received a bone marrow transplant at Fred
> Hutchinson hospital in Seattle. Here is an
> excellent book about him:
>
> Sacraficee - The True Story of Courage over
> Chernobyl


Amen!! One week ago today we went to the funeral of our former neighbor, age 86, who was diagnosed last October and managed to beat it back very well until he was told on Aug. 6 he had 10 days to 2 weeks and died one week later. We have an 85 year old friend who was diagnosed almost 3 years ago and is still hanging in there but knows it can end quickly.
Neither one of our friends because of their age is/were elegible for bone marrow transplants and the fact that Corman withstood 2 is a testimonial to his courage and determination--------and yes, do sign up as potential donors. Unfortunately, as a breast cancer survivor I am not eligible to do so.
C.