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#1
Fri Jun 3, 2011, 01:54 AM
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2 1/2 years post transplant, Grant meets his donor
It's been a very long time since I've posted here but thought I'd share our exciting moment with the Marrowforums family...
Grant was transplanted on 9/11/08, again on 10/23/08 and received a boost on 8/11/09 to finally be free of Aplastic Anemia. It was a long, long, arduous journey. In January of this year, we were contacted by DKMS, the German Bone Marrow Registry. They asked whether we were interested in coming to Berlin to meet Grant's donor whom we only knew as "Mrs. X" or "Isi". Our meeting would be spotlighted as part of the DKMS 20th Anniversary Celebration. Of course we jumped at this once in a lifetime chance to meet the woman who saved Grant's life. Oh, and one more thing... it was going to be a surprise for her! Please share the moment with us by watching the news broadcast below. You may not be able to understand the dialogue but I'm sure you will understand the emotion. Wendy Beltrami mom to Grant/ age 19.5 dx 12/4/98 AA ATGx2 plus a zillion other types of treatment BMT 9/11/08 PBSCT 10/23/08 (same donor!) Boost 8/11/09 http://www.frauenzimmer.de/cms/html/...sretterin.html 
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#2
Fri Jun 3, 2011, 07:36 AM
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What a wonderful wonderful piece, thank you for sharing. That was absolutely incredible. As Grants mom, you must of sobbed when you hugged her. I know I would of.
__________________
Edith, mom to Eric, dx 2/11 at age 15 with SAA, began ATG/CsA 3/11, switched to Tacrolimis 8/11, off all meds 9/11 and is now considered to have bone marrow failure not otherwise specified.
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#3
Fri Jun 3, 2011, 01:14 PM
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Glad you posted this here Wendy. What an emotionally charged meeting. Grant has been through so much and at such young age. He's amazing and you have been his "rock" through all of this.
So....what are you doing with all your free time now  ?
__________________
Marlene, wife to John DX w/SAA April 2002, Stable partial remission; Treated with High Dose Cytoxan, Johns Hopkins, June 2002. Final phlebotomy 11/2016. As of July 2021 HGB 12.0, WBC 4.70/ANC 3.85, Plts 110K.
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#4
Fri Jun 3, 2011, 05:48 PM
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So touching!
Congrats! What a great story, and I wish Grant a long, happy life! The best is yet to come!
__________________
Cheri Age 54; dx Oct 2009 AML, induction chemo only;dx MDS July 2010,- PRBC transfusion dependent; Results BMB 8/4/11--- 6-8% blasts; Danazol 100 mg 3xday; quit Exjade/ GI distress; platelets holding 40's; Fluctuation in blasts in blood--Neupogen 3-4xweek; off Revlimid again! Procrit weekly
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#5
Fri Jun 3, 2011, 07:30 PM
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wonderful, powerful video
__________________
Dx. 6/08 with AA, then changed shortly thereafter to MDS. Campath trial at NIH March '09 and have been transfussion independent since June '09
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#6
Sat Jun 4, 2011, 06:08 PM
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How fantastic!! Thank you so much for sharing the video - I really hope that some day I can thank my donor in person, too. Glad to hear Grant's still doing well, too!
__________________
36/F - 1984 SAA treated with ATG [complete remission until] Oct 08 - burst blood vessels in eyes and low platelets; Jan 09 - AA & hypo-MDS; July 09 - BMT (RIC MUD PSCT) July 10 - 10k for Anthony Nolan (1yr post BMT! 53:48) Sep 10 - Wedding!  I've run 5 marathons now!! (PB 3:30!)
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#7
Sun Jun 5, 2011, 06:18 PM
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Your face in the video says it all, Wendy! Wasn't it just the most amazing experience to meet the person who saved Grant's life? What a wonderful opportunity for all of you to go to Germany to meet Petra after the long, hard Stupid Aplastic Anemia journey you've been on. Congratulations and best wishes to Grant and all the Betramis.
Regards, Ruth
__________________
Diagnosed AA 10/96, MDS/RA 6/98, MUD/BMT 10/6/98
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#8
Mon Jun 6, 2011, 04:09 PM
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Having gotten to know Wendy on the old listserv and shared many stressful moments (Grant and Ken both had their second ATGs about the same time), I have followed Grant's BMT journey with a mixture of trepidation and hope. The failure to find a better than 9/10 match, the initial graft rejection and subsequent SS boosts, the ups and downs and all the miracles Dr. Margolis pulled out of his hat.... what a ride it's been!
So it's absolutely fantastic to see this video. Even though I don't speak German, I can't watch it without the waterworks starting up again. Petra is a gem!
__________________
-Lisa, husband Ken age 60 dx SAA 7/04, dx hypo MDS 1/06 w/finding of trisomy 8; 2 ATGs, partial remission, still using cyclosporine
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