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houston craigslist > community > general community
Can you help save my life?
Date: 2008-05-28, 1:21AM CDT
Reply to: TXPlumber@gmail.com
My name is Roger Contreras, each day that passes brings me closer to a death that could very well be avoided. I have been diagnosed with myelodyplastic syndrome. Here is a brief description.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a group of diseases in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets originate in the marrow and move into the bloodstream when they mature. In MDS, the marrow produces too many immature cells (blasts). These blasts die in the marrow or soon after entering the bloodstream, resulting in too few healthy blood cells and low patient blood counts.
I have been seen in 4 emergency rooms and admitted to 3 of them over the last 6 weeks. I have received 3 different blood transfusions totalling 10 pints of blood in that same time frame. At the time of my first transfusion I had only 5 pints of blood running through my body. The norm is 14- 18 pints for my size.
I was admitted at a regional hospital for my initial transfusion. Two weeks later I was readmitted. I had a bone marrow biopsy performed by a caring oncologist who saw that the hospital was unwilling to assist me because of the fact I did not have health insurance. This is when I found out I had MDS. On a Friday afternoon the symptoms of blood loss began. I went to the Ben Taub emergency room. After 7 hours my blood count was taken. I was at 8.1 pints of blood, low but not low enough I was discharged and referred to there Hematology department. I made an appointment with the HCHD to apply for a gold card. Appointment was kept and I received the card. I called the Hematology department to schedule an appointment as was told it would be about 2 weeks and they would notify me. I could not make it that long. The Monday following my trip to Ben Taub I was admitted to another hospital with 6.6 pints.
I was just notified that my appointment for my initital consultation is June 9, 2008. This is 2 weeks away and will be 3 weeks since my last transfusion. I will definitely be in another emergency room before than. There are various treatments for this disease that can save my life but we do not even know what options I have until I see a Hematologist. Each day that passes without treatment can mean numerous days taken off my life cycle.
If you or someone you know can help by getting me seen any sooner, I would greaty appreciate it. I will be forwarding this to some media outlets and ask if you can please do the same. My email is txplumber@gmail.com I have copies of my medical records with me and would be happy to answer any questions.
Thanks,
Roger
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a group of diseases in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets originate in the marrow and move into the bloodstream when they mature. In MDS, the marrow produces too many immature cells (blasts). These blasts die in the marrow or soon after entering the bloodstream, resulting in too few healthy blood cells and low patient blood counts.
I have been seen in 4 emergency rooms and admitted to 3 of them over the last 6 weeks. I have received 3 different blood transfusions totalling 10 pints of blood in that same time frame. At the time of my first transfusion I had only 5 pints of blood running through my body. The norm is 14- 18 pints for my size.
I was admitted at a regional hospital for my initial transfusion. Two weeks later I was readmitted. I had a bone marrow biopsy performed by a caring oncologist who saw that the hospital was unwilling to assist me because of the fact I did not have health insurance. This is when I found out I had MDS. On a Friday afternoon the symptoms of blood loss began. I went to the Ben Taub emergency room. After 7 hours my blood count was taken. I was at 8.1 pints of blood, low but not low enough I was discharged and referred to there Hematology department. I made an appointment with the HCHD to apply for a gold card. Appointment was kept and I received the card. I called the Hematology department to schedule an appointment as was told it would be about 2 weeks and they would notify me. I could not make it that long. The Monday following my trip to Ben Taub I was admitted to another hospital with 6.6 pints.
I was just notified that my appointment for my initital consultation is June 9, 2008. This is 2 weeks away and will be 3 weeks since my last transfusion. I will definitely be in another emergency room before than. There are various treatments for this disease that can save my life but we do not even know what options I have until I see a Hematologist. Each day that passes without treatment can mean numerous days taken off my life cycle.
If you or someone you know can help by getting me seen any sooner, I would greaty appreciate it. I will be forwarding this to some media outlets and ask if you can please do the same. My email is txplumber@gmail.com I have copies of my medical records with me and would be happy to answer any questions.
Thanks,
Roger
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I have a friend of a friend who is suffering leukemia and is desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant. I needed one also but was blessed to find a match with my sister. Janet is not that fortunate. Please take a moment to view her plea for your help.
Her situation is different from mine in that she is a 24 for year YOUNG child fresh out of UCLA. I am a 40 year OLD man that has seen and experienced life. I made peace with my God and am prepared to meet him at any time. She should not be going through this. If you are not yet registered with Be The Match or your local bone marrow registry please do so. Feel free to ask questions.
http://marrow.org/Home.aspx
Roger thank you so much for sharing Janet's story. I know if enough people do it can save her life. I've seen it happen time and time again when patients did not have a match in the marrow donor registry but one was found during a donor drive campaign.
ReplyDeleteSeeing others sharing Janet's story really fills me with hope.
(BTW you've been tagged @ http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-tag-youre-it.html)