Thursday, August 30, 2007

Derrick Nixon

Hello Friends,

Grace's neighbor on the 8th floor at Sick Kids during bone marrow transplant in March of 2006 was a 17 year old boy named Derrick Nixon. Derrick has Lymphoma and has recently relapsed for the second time. Grace and Derrick both had autologous (using their own stem cells, Grace's from her stored umbilical cord and Derricks from a harvest done from his own marrow early in his treatment protocol) bone marrow transplants. Due to Derrick relapsing post this autologous bone marrow transplant, he now needs another bone marrow transplant, this time using a donors stem cells. His immediate family was tested (mother, father, brother and sister) without success. He is now reliant on finding an unrelated match. If he does not find an unrelated match to facilitate this second transplant, doctors at Sick Kids have estimated that he may only be able to survive his disease for another 6 to 12 months. DERRICK NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Yvonne (Derrick's mom) writes:

Myself, Craig, Taylor and Chelsea are not a match for Derrick's bone marrow transplant. I'm asking for your help please. I'm looking for a suitable donor for Derrick. If you can please go online at www.blood.ca/registry for the unrelated bone marrow donor registry and complete an application. You will receive a phone call within 24 hours with information regarding blood testing and closest location nearest to you.

If you are able, please pass this message on to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbours.

Thanking everyone for their support and kindness during this time.

Love from the Nixon Family


All that is required of each of you is to go on line and fill out a brief application. You will then get a phone call letting you know where you can go to have a simple blood test done. You will then be added to the registry. Each time someone like Derrick is in need of bone marrow an extensive search is done comparing the blood tests on file of those who are members of the registry to the blood work of the patient in need. If you were to be a match for someone in need a simple day surgery would be required of you, no incisions, only needle marks from the extraction of a bone marrow sample that will be used for the patient in need. From those that I experienced during my time at the hospital, the extraction was usually taken from the hip area and the discomfort involved was usually controlled with just Tylenol... it is such a small sacrifice to save a life. PLEASE use the link above in Yvonne's Email to register today. You could save a life!

Mama misses you baby.
Les

P.S. Ian and I are going out of town for a few days spanning the first anniversary of Grace's death. We look forward to seeing you all at The Walk. In my absence my father Hal will be taking care of last minuet Walk details. He can be reached at hal.compagnon@woodwyant.com

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