Giving Thanks for Those Who Help Others

Just this past Sunday our minister gave a very visual and appropriate analogy about good intentions.  He said that he would like to lose some weight (and so would I) but that just “thinking” about losing weight isn’t going to get the job done. If he really wants to lose weight he is going to have to follow those good intentions up with some action. I thought about that yesterday when my daughter mentioned she had plans to go work out later in the afternoon. “Wish me luck, Mom,” she said. “I’ve been riding around with my work out clothes in the back seat for a week and so far I haven’t made it to the gym!”

How well I know the feeling. I want to do better. I want to lose weight, but do I want to bad enough to really do something about it?

The same principles apply to helping others. I hate watching commercials on television that show children who are hungry and suffering, but do I hate it enough to do something about it?

Yesterday I announced that January would be “Less of Me Month” at NanaHood. Every day this month I’m going to post an article that spotlights ways to reach out to others. And today I’m giving thanks for all my readers who know that changing the world starts with changing ourselves and learning to think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Today’s story….

Bone Marrow Registry – How to Become a Donor

by Rachel Paxton – http://www.christian-parent.com

It used to be if you wanted to become a bone marrow donor, you had to have a surgical procedure done to remove the bone marrow for the recipient.

Not anymore!  More than 90% of donations today are done through the blood system.  No surgery, and no pain.

To become a possible bone marrow donor, all you have to do is go to the Be the Match Registry (http://www.marrow.org). Fill out the registration form, and they will send you a cheek swab kit in the mail.  After they receive your kit back they will put your name on the registry if you are determined to be a good candidate.

A bone marrow match is much more complex than a regular blood donor match.  The tissues have to match exactly, which means that you only have an approximately 1 in 4,000 chance of actually becoming a donor.

Joining this registry will help someone who is in need of a bone marrow transplant.  It could save their life.  My brother-in-law donated his bone marrow to a 2-yr-old boy, and the transplant saved the boy’s life.  The boy is now 8 years old.

This subject is near and dear to my heart…my mother passed away last year from complications resulting from leukemia.  Her illness showed me how important it is for people to take the time to share their blood, platelets, and bone marrow with others.  If can make the difference between life and death.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com