Dear Friends,
Today is a very special today. It is the 10th anniversary of my matched unrelated donor bone marrow transplant for MDS/RA. I am both grateful and proud to be in very good health and to be able to enjoy life to its fullest.
At the time of my transplant, I had a couple of personal goals that kept me going when times were rough: to go to Japan with my husband on our 25th anniversary (still 7 years away at the time) and to see my sons graduate from college (they were in high school and middle school). The anniversary trip has come and gone, but this year the gift of life that I got from my donor let me see my son, Jimmy, graduate from the University of California, San Diego. My tears on his graduation day were the result of my pride in his achievements and the realization, once again, that I am so lucky to have survived.
This year my transplant anniversary coincides with the AA&MDSIF's 25th anniversary of service to patients, families, and caregivers dealing with bone marrow failure diseases. As many of you know, I've been supporting the AA&MDSIF by serving on its Board of Directors since 2004. We've made great strides in increasing awareness about bone marrow diseases and advocating for more research funds from the government and donors everywhere. This past summer, Neil and I participated in the Foundation's Advocacy Day as two of more than 125 people who made personal visits to our representatives in the House and Senate to ask for their support in finding cures for bone marrow diseases. Below is a picture of me giving Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) a plaque from the Foundation that recognizes her support of our work.
My donor doesn't want thanks or admiration for what she did, but I was looking for a way to honor her on this significant anniversary. I decided the best thing I could do was to continue helping those who are struggling as I once did, by contributing to the AA&MDSIF in her honor. If you feel inclined, I would love to have you join me by
donating to the AA&MDSIF in honor of "Ruth's Donor". There is still much work to be done.
Best Regards,
Ruth Cuadra
Mary Bono Mack and Ruth Cuadra
(click for larger version)