Just wanted to pass along a recent experience that has helped open my eyes about many things. I wasn't going to share this with the DB but with all of the crap going on around here lately I thought it might be nice to post something that I found to be uplifting.
A few of you that I exchange emails with already know that my leukemia came out of remission recently. For the past few and the next several weeks it's chemo time again. The last time I was sick was about 7 years ago and most of my JW siblings and all of my xJW siblings (5 in and 5 out at the present time) were tested for a bone marrow match in case I needed a transplant. Well I didn't need one then, and I hope not to have to this time either. Anyway the point of all this is that the only one of my siblings that was a match is a current JW who lives at Bethel. I spoke to her this past weekend and she told me that if it comes down to it, this time she won't hesitate to fly home and donate!
Well you could have knocked me down with a feather folks! When she first had the test done years ago and was the only match, she told me that she couldn't be my donor. When I asked her what had changed her mind, she told me that living at Bethel had opened her eyes to many things and one of the things that she saw as wrong was the WT policy on blood. I wasn't feeling that great so I didn't get much time to ask her to elaborate, but we will talk again this weekend since I don't have my next treatment til Monday. I truthfully hope that I won't need to take her up on her offer, but it is a huge relief to know she'll be there if I need her.
This experience has made me start to think about something that I have had to push into the back of my mind for the last 20 years. I didn't know my younger siblings well because when I was DA'd at 16 my father cut me out of the family. I'm begining to once again hope that I can have at least some of my family that are still JW's become a part of my life again. And no matter what happens with the cancer this time, that really makes it worth it. Unless of course I croak and then I'll be bitter as hell.(hahaha)
Anyway, I just wanted to pass this along in hopes that it will remind all of us of the things that are really important in life, our health and our families.
Peace and love to you and yours,
Jon