Dear all,
Thanks for responding to our appeal for donors. I have gotten about 9 names for AB+ and 11 names for O+ so far. I will contact each of them shortly regarding screening details. Please convey my thanks to those whom you have forwarded my message to. Thanks for praying and for being so willing to help.
Please continue to pray for David. Praise the Lord he has the Central Venous Catheter (a silicon tubing to be inserted into his vein for blood transfusion, stem cell transplant) done successfully today after 2 failed attempts which caused him much pain. The CVC or central line was supposed to be a simple procedure and the doctor had done it for more than 200 times without any problem. She was amazed that David was not upset with her but was still smiling after the ordeal. Eventually, the CVC was done by a radiologist using X-ray to guide the procedure. Though the CVC has finally been inserted, it is lodged near his throat, an extremely awkward position, very uncomfortable. Please pray that he could bear with the discomfort and not be too distressed with it. The thought of having to endure it for a couple of weeks can be quite depressing. May the Lord continue to lift up his spirit as grant him strength and renewed hope everyday.
As for side effects, David experienced a little nausea and vomiting yesterday. The hiccups also started today. 21Apr is day 3 of chemo. According to the doctor, his blood count will start dropping and will be very low in day 6, 7 when his immunity will be very low and prone to infection. Thereafter it will pick up and then his stem cells will be collected on day 11 or 12. May the Lord have mercy on him and protect him from all infections and complications. Our God is able to deliver him!
Thanks & God bless,
Whee Ling
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From: Whee Ling Chern
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 11:31 PM
To: Whee Ling Chern
Subject: Platelets donors
Hi all,
David's doctor has advised that we need to gather names of at least 10 potential platelets donors for David. He would need platelet transfusions as his platelets (which are the smallest of the cells in the blood, essential for the clotting of blood) as his platelets would be destroyed after chemotherapy, radiation treatment and stem cell transplant.
Due to the recent high number of dengue fever cases, the blood bank's supply has gone down significantly. Therefore, it is essential to get platelets donation specifically for David. The platelets donated do not go to the blood bank but would be kept with the Haematology Centre. The blood types needed are O+ and AB.
To be eligible for donating platelets, the following criteria have to be met:
between 18 to 55 years old
weigh at least 50kg
did not donate red blood during the last 3 months
do not have a history of diabetes, hypertension and asthma
did not have flu, fever, cough or sore throat in the past one week
did not take antibiotics and flu medication in the past one week
did not travel to India, Nepal and other rural countries within the last 6 months
did not take anti-malaria pills within the last 6 months
have not been exposed to chicken pox in the last 6 months
have good prominent veins on both forearms
willing to spend approx 2 hours during the actual donation process for platelets donation
The donor will have to go for screening whereby blood sample will be taken and tested. The screening fees will be charged to the patient.
How is Platelets donation performed?
A needle is inserted into your vein at the forearm after applying local anaesthetic. Sterile procedure tubings are connected to the needle and blood is drawn from your vein into the blood sparator machine, which will separate the platelets from whole blood. The rest of your blood will be returned to you to avoid further blood loss. The procedure is painless and will take approx 1 to 2 hours to complete. It is very safe because only platelets are removed from the blood. All equipment that comes into direct contact with the blood is disposable, used only once and thrown away.
We need to provide a list of donors to the doctor asap, preferably by end of this week or early next week. As blood group AB is considered rare, please pray and help us find people who are eligible and willing to provide this gift of life. You can sms me or e-mail me the name, contact number and blood type of potential donors.
Thanks & God bless,
Whee Ling
P/S: I had so much problem trying to get this e-mail out. My notebook was giving me problem and the cursor kept moving till I literally bang on it and prayed that God make it work. "No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Amen!"
