Slightly different Follow Friday Blog 29th January 2010

I've never cried while writing a blog before.  Mind you, I’ve never written a Follow Friday blog like this before either. I need to ask you for a Follow this week that is slightly different.  The person I want you to follow isn’t even on Twitter for a start.

I have a friend who has been there for me over the past few months, offering moral support, good advice and friendship, while I have been juggling everything to set up my business.  She’s a very good friend. I’ve just found out that her beautiful, brave daughter, Carrie, has days left to live.  She is 14, and has a rare form of cancer called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.  Despite having a bone marrow transplant in 2007, she was told before Christmas she would have to endure more Chemo, have operations on her knees, and so much more. She’s a very poorly little girl, and through it all she has always thought of others before herself, never feeling sorry for herself, or allowing others to feel sorry for her.  To put this in perspective, for nearly half of her short life she has suffered. Life stinks sometimes, it truly does.

I have cried, sworn, shouted and stamped my feet, but it hasn’t helped (It hasn’t made me feel any better either).  I have given my own daughter extra hugs; she is only 7 and I can’t imagine a child that young having to go through any of this.  I can’t imagine what it must be like for her mum, either.

As Carrie doesn’t have a Twitter page you can’t follow her so I’d like you to consider joining the British Bone Marrow Register http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/

It’s easy to do, you just let them know next time you donate blood. It’s as simple as that.  Both my husband and I have been on the register for years.  There’s a chance that you could be a match for someone who is seriously ill.  By joining the register you have the chance to save a life.  It’s too late to help Carrie, but there’ll be someone else’s daughter or son, wife or husband out there who desperately needs your help.

If you would like to support Carrie, I have set up a JustGiving page in her name in support of one of her chosen charities, Clic Sargent, with all money donated in Carrie’s name, in an effort to help other children and families suffering from cancer. http://www.justgiving.com/carrier

So please, I know I have great followers, this week, I would deem it a great personal favour if you would consider joining the Bone Marrow register or make a donation to Carrie’s charity, or even both.

Thank you.

18 comments:

  1. Oh boy, life is such a challenge.

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  2. Puts everything into perspective.

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  3. This story touched me in many ways. Not only for the awfulness of Carrie's plight, and Heaven knows what the family are going through, but also for Helen's decision to dedicate her blog to this subject. You are clearly a very considerate and sympathetic individual.

    It makes us realise that no matter how crappy we may think our day/life/job/relationship, etc., is, there is always someone out there who is going through a lot worse. (By the way, my day/life/job/relationships are great at the moment, but you get my drift!)

    For Carrie and her family - my love and hugs to you all.

    For Helen - thank you for writing this and making me appreciate everything I hold dear - my kids

    *sniff*
    Sarah

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  4. Helen.

    What a wonderful blog post. Thank you for writing this and setting up the JustGiving page. I know Carrie and her family are very appreciative.

    You are wonderful lady and a great VASG member. This post puts the "S" in the word support and I thank you.

    Dee x

    Dee

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  5. Wow....there are no other words xxx

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  6. I can't comment Helen through the tears, my heart goes out to you and your friend and her family. God Bless you and take care of them to the best of his ability. If you hold any events I will gladly donate a bag Love Anne

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  7. Sadly with stories liek this many people dont realise the impact they could make just by joining the register, as I will be in a few minutes, and I hope even if just a few more people join then a few more lives might be changed!

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  8. I'm off to join the register.

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  9. Helen, I agree there are times when life really sucks. My lovely friend (also Helen) survived bowel cancer five years ago only to be faced with a brain tumour (successfully removed last year) and now aggressive lung cancer which isn't responding to treatment. No-one deserves this.
    However, life is also wonderful and great caring compassionate people like you come through and show us the other side of it along with the people who dedicate their lives to trying to find cures and preventions for this indiscriminate disease.
    There's no making sense of it so all we can do is make the most of it and treasure the pain and the pleasure as each makes the other more acute.

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  10. Oh the pour wee soul, I cant imagine how terrible it would be, thanks for writing the article , I hope it makes a difference.

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  11. Thank you for sharing. My new years resolution is to give blood this year and your blog will be just the extra nudge I need.
    Cool bananas
    Martin

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  12. Life is so unfair sometimes. My mum went through breast cancer treatment last year and it was an eye opener sitting with everyone in the waiting rooms day after day, my heart goes out to Carrie and her family.

    I have just booked my first appointment to give blood and have wanted to have the courage to do this for years so thanks for nudging people like me :)

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  13. I too have registered. As you say, everything is now in perspective. Carrie and her family seem to have been an inspiration you and others.

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  14. I just wanted to say a huge thank you, especially to those who have signed on the register or will now make an effort to do so, and to everyone who has made a donation in Carrie's name.

    Thank you to re-tweeted this or shared it with friends, and especially thank you to those who shared such personal sentiments.

    I really appreciate it.

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  15. There are no words to say that can follow this. Just to say my heart goes out to Carrie and her family xxxx

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  16. Unable to join the register because of my own history with cancer/chemotherapy. However, I'm going to speak to my boyfriend about his joining instead.

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  17. Just wanted to update you all, Carrie is fighting away and doing well. Just seen some photos of her taken in the hospital today and she has the most gorgeous smile. Naturally, it's made me cry again, at just how unfair this is, she is so beautiful, and so young. But she is fighting back, good on you Carrie, you keep going girl xxx

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  18. Sadly Carrie passed away in Feb, her funeral was just amazing, the horses, her extended family, and her firends, with such grace, her brother and father's speeches to her life. RIP

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