NERGAL FOUND A BONE MARROW DONOR — BUT THE FIGHT AGAINST LEUKEMIA RAGES ON
I’m sick. Not in a scary way; more in a “Went to the doctor yesterday and got on antibiotics and didn’t do any posting or checking of e-mail” kinda way. Consequently, the limited amount of posting I’m going to do today will probably be even more ineloquent and vitriolic than usual. (I’ve already responded to several e-mails this morning with the rudest possible reply I could concoct.) My apologies in advance.
Some e-mails that won’t be getting any misplaced rage caused by my current condition: the approximately 18,000 messages alerting us to the fact that Nergal has, at last, found an appropriate bone marrow donor. This is great news for a guy who really is sick in a scary way, and I couldn’t be happier. Here’s an official statement from the man himself:
“Hello, everyone! I’m still in the hospital but in quite a good shape so I write to let you know about my health and the further stages of treatment. I’ve been through four planned chemotherapies and have stayed in hospital for over 3 months now. I’ve gone through the whole therapy smoothly, though I also had a couple of difficult moments. All this means I have finished the stage of pharmacological treatment and I am about to start the irradiation and then the marrow transplant. Yes, we’ve found a donor! Having searched for months, the foundation has found a person whose genotype is identical to mine. It would have been difficult to achieve if it wasn’t for the support of so many people. Most of all, I want to express my admiration for Dorota – my wonderful and devoted fiancée. She did everything she could to help me and many other people, regardless of adversities and comments which were often unfair. Your help is invaluable! Thank you! I love you. On behalf of me and all other people ill I thank everyone who registered in the bone marrow bank regardless of origin, skin colour or religion. The concerts for charity have been organized all over the world and people of show business, bands and, most of all, the fans got deeply involved. You are beyond great! One of you made my transplant possible, but remember, your attitude may save many others in need. So I appeal to everyone: don’t stop the madness! The march for victory continues! Horns up!”
Excellent news, but like the man says, it doesn’t mean that we should all suddenly stop caring about leukemia — in fact, I’m sad to say that a former co-worker of mine just passed away last week from the disease, and another friend was just diagnosed with it, both events which serve as a too-potent reminder that we need to continue to wage war against this horrible affliction.
Which is why we’d like to remind you all again that reader Steven Kolenberg has orgnaized a bone marrow drive to take place this Sunday, November 14 in Stamford, Connecticut at Fritz’s Cycle Haus. The drive will take place from noon to to 4:30, and shortly thereafter, four local area bands — Morbid Visions, Brain Dead, Frogg and Sacrifice the Moon — will be playing. On top that, Steven tells us that there’s gonna be food, an on-site tattoo artist, and a raffle to give away such prizes as tickets to Jerry Springer, and the entire catalog of Banger Films, signed by Sam Dunn.
In case that still isn’t enough to entice you to show up, here’s a video from your friends Trevor Strnad and Ben Falgoust ordering you to attend:
Details for the bone marrow drive are on the flyer at the top of this post; details for the show portion are on the flyer below. I urge you to attend if you’re geographically able.
-AR
