As you all know by now, Shari needs a bone marrow transplant. In the last month, there have been four drives to help Shari and others like her find their match. In less than one month, Shari’s Mission has helped add close to 1400 people to the bone marrow registry in Canada. That may seem like an amazing number, and of course it is, especially to the over 800 people currently waiting for their bone marrow match to save their life.

This adventure is all about the numbers. For Shari, numbers relate to her levels when they are down, and she is neutropenic (An abnormal decrease in the number of neutrophils in the blood). That means it is very dangerous for her to catch any germs, infections, etc for her body is not able to fight off any infections, which is bad for anyone in her situation. But, when her numbers are UP, it means she has engery, can go for walks, can see her friends and family, can go out for sushi (yay for sushi), and means that she is getting stronger every day. Numbers….when Shari was in PMH (Princess Margaret Hospital) the numbers are put up every day after chemo, and we all waited…to see them start to climb which showed us that she was coming out of the bad times.

But now, the numbers means something different. These are the numbers that have been thrown around to me the last six weeks:
– about 27 million eligable Canadians in Canada, and only 250,000 are on the bone marrow registry.
– over 800 people are currently waiting for bone marrow matches
– there are many different types of cancers that need and require bone marrow for a patient’s survival.

The question is: how can we raise awareness to the need for people in our community, the city, the province, and beyond to step up and get tested to see if they can save a life.

One Match, is the arm in Canada for this. Once you are in their website (http://www.onematch.ca ) you can read about the who, what, where when why and how about blood services, stem cells and bone marrow. Why should I donate, How can I donate. It is very simple, you do it on line, and they mail you a kit, swab, and send it back….simple…BUT there are other ways as well.

I should also stress the importance of giving blood and platlets. I have a friend who is a regular platlet donor, and I can tell you that he is helping saves lives as well. Shari has had to have lots of blood and platlets to survive. So, every small part, is HUGE to someone else. More than I ever imagined.

As I said at the start of this post, Shari’s Mission (http://www.sharismission.com ) has been holding bone marrow drives and will continue to do so, until we find a match for Shari, and beyond, to help all the others.

Our next MAJOR event will be on Monday November 23rd from 4-9pm at Hava Nagila Banquest hall (1118 Centre Street in Thornhill). Shari’s brother Rob, is challenging the community at LARGE to support this event. Everyone needs to ‘pay it forward’ and come out to register. Plain and simple – PEOPLE NEED YOU!

I know that many people are already on the list from past drives for others in need. I understand that. But many of you are not. What YOU need to do is just pass this on, and let everyone you know, know about this. Let them decide if they want to help save a life.

I hope that you can do this. I hope that you agree that you can do your small part to help someone else.

I know that I am probably starting to sound like Jerry Lewis with my pleas for help for Shari and others like her, but it is all true. It is probably easier to help with a bone marrow drive, than it is to help find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. I am not comparing…I am just sayin’…..

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions, concerns, want to volunteer, want to know more about….whatever….if I know the answers, I will tell you. If I don’t, I will try to find out.

When I started eating sushi many years ago, my repetoire consisted of california rolls, cucumber rolls, tempura and teriaki. Over the last few years, several all you can eat sushi places have popped up in my area (one in the back of my condo) and I have been able to try new things. I love sushi now, and have been known to go a couple times a week if asked…lunch, dinner…you ask, if I can go, we go.

So, when Shari called yesterday and told me she had a craving for sushi, I jumped at the chance. It was more about seeing her than eating the sushi, especially since yesterday was her last day of chemo. I had my niece’s birthday party at night, so we agreed to meet for an early dinner at the place near my condo.

I was so happy to see her. I knew that she had a ‘fanny’ pack with her chemo that she took home, but I was surprised to see her take it out of her purse! I didn’t realize it was with her, attached to her, at all times! Especially when she got up to pay, but didn’t remember that she was attached to her purse – not something you should forget!

We ordered lots of food, and started to talk, and laugh and share. The last few months, we haven’t had a lot of times that were filled with our usually crazy stories, funny stories and laughter. (yes, there was lots of ‘girl’ talk). It is quite funny actually, I have been to this restaurant with other friends, and we get VERY engrossed in our conversations, that we don’t even realize people coming and going. We are in our own space, and place in time. It is hard to explain, but it is very special. I have shared many sushi meals with friends, and when you look at your watch…you don’t even realize that you have been there for almost three hours sometimes! A quick dinner, is no less than a 90 minute affair, that’s what it was last night.

Of course we talked about cancer, and the bone marrow and what comes next. I hope that Shari will be well enough to come to the donor drives and see how many people care about her and hope that she can ‘kick cancer in the ass’ and beat this thing. I will be there with my camera on hand at all times, so even if she isn’t there, she will know what went on. When, not if, you come to one of the three drives, please make sure you see me so that I can take your picture.

Shari, I look forward to the next time we can share salmon sashimi, sushi pizza, shrimp tempura and more. Stay strong and healthy and I hope that with the events in the next few weeks, that you will be able to get what you need and be able to share years and years of sushi meals with me!

For everyone reading this, if you are not already on the bone marrow registry list, PLEASE do one of the following:
– join on line at http://www.onematch.ca or http://www.giftoflife.org
– come to one of the three events happening in the next few weeks at the following locations:

• October 20th – 3:30 – 8:00pm – 4700 Bathurst Street (Council House for Jewish Women)
• October 31st – 10:00 – 6:0pp – Hillcrest Mall (The bay Kids entrance)
• November 1st – 10:00 – 6:00pm – 4700 Bathurst street

To read more about Shari and her story, please check out http://www.sharismission.com

Where do I begin? This week has been a rough week all around. Not necessarily for me personally, but for people around me. There have been, I think at last count, six deaths and funerals this week for people that I know or through friends know. Not to mention, the death of a hamster and a dog. AND it is only Thursday.

The age ranges are huge – spanning from a 99 year old man to a 38 year old man. Opposite sides of the spectrum. I can somehow rationalize the passing of a 99 year old man, as someone who has lived a full life, but a 38 year old man? That is a life not yet lived.

During the eulogy, it was mentioned that we are not only grieving for the life lost, but for the life not lived. All the dreams not yet realized and all the experiences not yet experienced. It was so sad. This being said, this young man was a Princeton and Harvard Graduate who was working at the UN. He travelled to Congo and all over the world. He lived life, but for 38 years, it was not a long enough life.

I also realized that friendship doesn’t know about time. I sat in a row with people I knew over 25 years ago. Some I have crossed paths with over the years, others not. Some crossed paths with the friend who passed, and some came because there was at time in our lives that we were everything to each other. We all went, and were all affected by his life and his passing. At least I can speak for myself about that.

Just to elaborate on that time in our lives, it was BBYO (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) that linked all of us together. It fostered friendships that obviously last a life time, as well as a strong sense of community and your part in it. It is as true today as it was 25 years ago when I was in the program. I still have friends today from that time, and I think will be in my life in some aspect always.

As I have said over and over this year, I have been faced with my own mortality and now a friend’s mortality. It is very hard to imagine ‘what if’ or ‘what happens next’ and who knows when that time comes, what it will be like. I just know that I want to hang on to what I have right now and not let go.