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One week ago today the world lost a truly heroic and selfless person. His name was Adrian Sudbury, and I only know of him because of the gracious and intelligent heart of Tash at Fabric of Life in Trinidad. He may have been the only person in the world who was suffering with the affliction he had - two forms of Leukemia at work in him at the same time. Essentially, untreatable. This post here, tells a lot about him and the effect he had. I don't know all the details about him, and his illness, yet. But I do know this. In the short time he had left (In May he was told he'd live two weeks.) he went about the business of convincing the British Government to institute mandatory education for 6th formers (equivalent to our High School Seniors, I think) regarding the process for Bone Marrow and Bone Marrow Stem Cell donation. His mission is largely accomplished - in England. It will happen, eventually. The program of education will clear up certain misconceptions that prevail about the process of donation. And encourage donations on a scale that will save hundreds, if not thousands of lives every year. That's what he did with the time he had left.
I am not a crusader. I am not going to even try to lead some great charge toward such a lofty goal, in this country. But I have spoken to my Doctor. She and I are going to put together a presentation that will be given at our four High Schools in our school district. We haven't worked out the details yet. And we will probably face some resistance from the School Board. But we're going to go after it. There are many people in this country who die each year waiting for, looking for, Bone Marrow and Bone Marrow Stem Cell matches. And they die one at a time. And that's just the way their lives can be saved. One at a time. And each kid who becomes a donor becomes, potentially, the savior of one life. One at a time.
Tomorrow is the next episode of The Kid. You will notice (You HAVE noticed, right?) that the little panel top left of this page has links to all of the previously published episodes plus the special bit published on Saturday before last. I think it's time to establish Copyright on this material, although Copyright is inferred when written. Excerpts will be allowed with permission and proper attribution. Excerpts are to be kept reasonbly short. Attribution must include my name, Louis C. Lohman, and the fact that the material was first published in this blog. Further, the portion of Part 1 which is germane to the David's Past Lives Series may not be excerpted except by the combined permission of me and the founding author of David's Past Lives, Vikki North. Plain and simple talk. Don't make it complicated, please? Copyright Louis C. Lohman, 2008. There.
UPDATE: Some of the verbiage in this copyright notice was changed and altered by me, Louis C. Lohman, on August 28th, 2008.
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30 comments:
Now here's a man who deserves a special place in heaven. Knowing that he had only so much time left, and accomplishing what he did is an act of great courage ...
Some people are truly remarkable, and I think you are one of this same rare and exceptional kind too.I hope you can get the message through in your part of the world!
Thanks for sharing this,you know, this might inspire others too maybe, who knows?
And on a lighter note, I'm very curious to find out what the next twist in the story of the Kid is going to be! I find out that I can read your new posts, as soon as I get up in the morning. You hit publish, and here I am, sipping my first cup of coffee, reading you.
Well, it's the second coffee actually, I have the first one in my kitchen with the cat on my lap!
Have a great day Lceel!
Do let us know how your efforts are treated by the school system. I live in rural southern Virginia and I am certain such a drive would be ignored if not treated with disdain by our board here. Maddening. I, however, am going to set about seeing how I can donate! Thanks for this post.
I carry a donor card but I am in favour here in the UK of presumed consent unless you opt out it seems silly to let my organs and indeed any part of my body rot away after death when it could be used to improve someone elses quality of life
What a good soul!
And you too, Lou. That is a tragedy about donations (I suppose I'll sun into lots of tragedies now in the hospital.......)
Good luck with your efforts. Anything you do to spread the word makes for a better quality of life for everyone. As you say, one person at a time.
Looking forward to Thursday and The Kid.
I don't know how Adrian managed to accomplish so much in a very few months, but I suspect you may have a tough go of it, Lou. Talking to educators above the teaching level is like talking to woodpiles.
Can't wait for the kid!
Great story about Adrian Sudbury. I will endeavor to learn more about him. Thanks for turning me on to his story.
Any part of this comment can be used anywhere else with my explicit permission, given here in perpetuity.
I, too, wish you good luck with getting passed the school board and spreading the word. Educating as many people as possible can save lives.
Meanwhile, I found the baby's sandals--they were in a hamper filled with, of course, dirty clothes. My little imp is bound to be a handful one day. Have you found your keys?
jientje: Please - call me Lou. Of course, you have a 6 or 7 hour head start. When my stuff publishes at 12:01 AM, it's 6 or 7 (I'm not sure, really) where you are. Coffee time. Cat in the lap time. Nice.
bee: Go BEE!! I'll let everybody know as this progresses - but please keep us up to date on what you do, as well. That's amazing. Go BEE!!
michael: I agree. Implied consent makes a lot of sense.
Christy: Being a Nurse is so hard. It takes a special person to be a Nurse. When it gets hard - when you need somebody to talk to - vent to - rant to - cry to - you know how to get hold of me.
moneythoughts: Thanks, Fred. Have a nice trip - and tell your daughter I wish her good fortune in her marriage.
witchypoo: We may bypass the Board, if we meet resistancce, and just go directly to Health Educators in the school system. We'll see.
This is what I get for taking too long with comments - I missed Mike and Joyce-Anne while preparing responses to the first 6 commenters.
ayewonder: His story is amazing. As I dig through his archives, I am just stunned - especially now, knowing how it ends. It is hard to read, now.
Joyce-Anne: No, i have not found the keys. I have decided to stop plotzing about them. They'll turn up - I know they will.
thanks to you i too now know more about bone marrow and stem cell donation. and i wish you fortune on your quest too.
looking forward to the next instalment of the kid. you have such a creative mind it's difficult to predict what will happen...
and if i may, i'd like to thank you for your kind comments my side. be assured, should i ever cross the oceans, i'll certainly give you a shout!
The story about Adrian is heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time.
When you finish your presentation at the school, would you be able to post it here... maybe if somebody googles it, they'll find your post and it will inform more people...US even. The more the merrier.
I hope I do something great with the time I have left.
Shadow: Thank you. I look forward to the day we can share a glass of wine.
Hyphen mama: Whoa. "I hope I do something great with the time I have left." ??? What do you think you're doing with those two kids?? You don't need to look any further than right where you are to do something great. Love those kids. Teach them to love each other and to love people. Teach them the value of love, kindness and understanding. You ARE doing something great. You have babies.
What a beautiful, poignant post. Looks like I have a lot of great reading to do. You may not feel like your are a crusader, but you certainly are. Just by bringing the issue to your doctor the two of you have joined forces. Sadly, this may be more than most are willing to do. If I had a hat on, Sir, I would tip it off to you.
abritdifferent: Siobhan, I salute you, as well. You are an extra-ordinary person, and to receive a tip o' the hat from you makes me, as it should make any man, proud.
That is usually around seven in the morning. By then, I have some new comments waiting for me from people in other timezones. It's nice to read those, first thing in the morning.
My favourite time of day!
Awh Lou - you really are a dream! You've done more than I've managed to do thus far. I did have a long chat with the manager at our blood bank to organise a "blood party" where they'll come and take blood as we chat - BUT we don't even have bone marrow donation in Trinidad - ugh! Third world countries eh?
I can't describe the kind of smile I had on my face as I read you post. You're brilliant!
xoxo
Tash
You ARE a crusader. In more ways than you think, and I applaud your efforts. Thank you so much for this poignant post. These are the things I wish received more press. These are the things we need to shed more light upon. Not Lindsey, Paris, or Britney.
Oh you don't know me, I've popped by from Tash's place...
...sadly not literally.
I am not in Trinidad, but good old SE London.
But just wanted to say to YOU...
Top Man!
:O)
Screw the opposition, just do it. Be a force to be reckoned with.
Thank you so much for spreading the word about Adrian. I dropped by from Tash's and just wanted to thank you.
I got on the bone marrow donation list becuase of Adrian. For those interested, the site is marrow.org.
I know it is sad how Adrian's story ended up...I do hope you get to read all of his story, it just shows you what an amzing person he was. I learned so much from him.
Thank you, thank you for what you are doing.
jientje: Well, looks like you get to read it first. Unless, of course, everybody stays up late. Not a good idea, people.
Tash: No, it's you - YOU - who are brilliant. But for you, I never would have known about Adrian. YOU, Tash. You.
Sandy C: From your mouth to the Media God's ear. Seriously - Do you think the Media have any idea what people REALLY want - what they would REALLY respond to? Neither do I.
trac: I DO know you, actually. I lurked at your place for a while.
And thank you - very, very much.
warriorwoman: We'll see. They haven't pissed me off, yet.
hockeychic: He was incredible. God, I hate the word 'was'.
I hope the teachers are responsive. I'm a teacher and I know I would be. But, many are so caught up in their own needs. That is the way of the world. Still, I will send you all my positive energy that your efforts are met with great success.
Smart of you to copyright that genius piece of yours.
Wow, Lou, such an inspiring story, and I love that it moved you to move others. I also hope you someday post some of your presentation here.
When I wake up, The Kid will be on my monitor. Yay!
Thank you so much for the story about Adrian. Around here we are always taught how important it is to donate blood and be an organ donor on our driver's license. You never hear a word about bone marrow donation!!!
Thank you for sharing Adrian's story, and thank you for your quest in educating others about the importance of donation.
What do you mean you aren't a crusader? One of the reasons I like you so much is your drive to do right. You are a very selfless individual. I think the high school kids will better off for having known you.
Just another example of why you are such a great guy. Well done, Lou.
Lou, a little over a year ago I donated peripheral stem cells to a 21 year old woman with leukemia. It was an incredibly humbling experience. Unfortunately, it only extended her life about 6 months.
Please let me know how you make out with the school board. I would be very interested in doing something like that in my neck of the woods (NH).
Wow...once again, loved it. I did notice the links :-) And will not infringe on copywright...
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