Support System... Opportunities!

As a friend of the Brown's, I have been moved to tears--more than once--by the outpouring of love, support, and "how can we help?" comments, emails, texts, and facebook posts that have been channeled to the Brown's. As I am helping to administrate this site I am privy to much, though not all, of your enormous love and support for the Brown's. I know that they are so grateful for all of you who are reading this, all of you who are in some way a part of their support system.

Many people have been wanting to help—and with the more difficult news Christy posted yesterday, I know that this desire to help is only growing.  Read on for some ways to support Ian and family (either directly or by inspiring hope): give blood, get tested for match-ability for the national bone marrow database, and other ways to practically love and encourage them in this time.

Blood Donation

During busy, harried, cold times in the year—blood donations are down. When blood donations are down people in need suffer. It’s a relatively simple procedure to give blood and you can do it all over the place. It’s a radical act of life in this Christmas season. And also blood is red, which is festive. So, ‘tis the season.

How to donate to Ian’s hospital (which will help Ian and/or his floor mates):

·         To make blood or platelet donations (Ian will need both) at Ian’s hospital, click here for information on where the hospital is, click here for information about how the giving and designation works, click here. If you are the same blood type, you can actually designate donations to him. And if you are not the same blood type, welp… you can care for someone, like him, who needs blood. His blood type is O positive BUT note that platelet donations do not require an exact match.

·         Make sure to designate, at the center, that it is for Ian Brown.

How to donate, generally (as a radical act of hope, and to show solidarity with Ian): 

·         Click here to find locations near you to donate blood through the American Red Cross. Donate now and donate soon to help with holiday and winter blood shortages.

Bone Marrow Donation

Because of Ian’s new diagnoses, a bone marrow transplant is going to happen.  As Christy mentioned in the previous post, the most likely match will be one of his siblings.  There is also an amazing database of people who have committed to be a donor if they match someone in need of a transplant.  Here’s the great news: you can join that database! 

1. 1.   While it is unlikely that a friend will be a match, it isn’t impossible.  So there is reason number one to join the “Be the Match” database. (And if you are joining for this reason you should be tested for match-ability ASAP.  It will likely be in about two months that a transplant is needed and it takes that long just to get the results back.)

1. 2.   The second reason is that even if you aren’t a match for Ian, you could be a match for someone else’s father, son, brother, friend—and that would warm Ian’s heart. And things that warm hearts produce hope. And hope cannot be in short order in a time like this.

How to:

• The test is a simple cheek swab (note that the information gathered in this database is HIPPA protected and cannot be shared with any outside person without your consent) and there are two ways that you can be tested:

1.    Order the cheek swab kit through the registry website. Click here to do so.  When it arrives you should complete the kit and return it as quickly as possible. Note that they request a donation to send you the kit—they will send and process the kit without a donation!! but if you have a few bucks, they will certainly go to good use.

2.    Find a collection drive near you. Click here for drives near San Jose (note there are two next week!) and click here to customize locations for drives near you.

 Important Questions, Answered.

·         Can I register to give only to Ian if I am a match?

o   Friends cannot register in order to be tested for a match with one specific person. Rather you get entered into the pool of candidates for all those in need. And if you were a match to Ian you could donate to him. You could also be called to donate to someone else in need.

o   Immediate family members may, and they should connect with Ian’s bone marrow transplant specialist at UCSF (rather than using one of the methods above). You can reach her at:

·         Are there any restrictions on who can donate?

o   Yes, click here for a list of conditions or behaviors that may preclude you from donation.

·         What is the likelihood that I will be a match?

o   “On average, one in every 540 members of Be The Match Registry in the United States will go on to donate bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells to a patient. We cannot predict the likelihood that an individual member will donate because there is so much diversity of tissue types in the population.”

·         What does the donation process look like if I am ever called as a match?

o   According to Ian’s bone marrow transplant coordinator, it is rarer that donors will have to give marrow and more likely that peripheral blood cells (PBSC) will be taken.  Bone-marrow transplants can be a little painful but doesn’t. PBSC is a five-day process where you come in for a shot every day for four days (and then leave, it’s apparently very quick and simple) but most people continue work and normal life. Then on the fifth day you donate, it’s quick and the main side-effect is being pretty tired.  Neither are completely risk free but the risks are minimal and very unlikely.

Practical Love

Ian and Christy’s friend Prisilla is organizing some opportunities to support the Brown’s as Ian comes home from the hospital for a week or two. Here Is a note from her: “There are a few things that would really be a blessing to them right now:

·         House Cleaning: ~ $80/cleaning

·         Meals/activities Out for the family during house cleaning: ~$50/outing

           Delivery of Fresh, organic fruits & veggies for juicing: ~$35/box

·         Oil change: ~ $50

·         Gas gift-cards: ~ $100+

·         Cash towards other needs as they arise: ~any amount

If you are interested in contributing you can do so via Paypal or Chase QuickPay, or email me if you'd like to donate some other way and pledge a specific amount towards one of these gifts. Please donate or pledge an amount by emailing me. 

Thanks for considering. Please make sure to include your name with all donations via Paypal or Quickpay (using the email address available in hyperlink above). Thanks!”

Encouraging the Browns

If you have their phone number already, know that brief texts of support, encouragement, prayer, or scripture are wonderful gifts.  Consider brief texts--without expectation of response--a good way to let them know they are on your mind and in your heart. 

Phone calls, voice mails, and emails are more difficult. There often isn't space for them to take calls and voice mails and emails can become items to-do. 

Leaving comments, prayers, bible verses on this site or on Chrisy's facebook page are also great ways to let them know you are with them.  Please note: The majority of comments have been on Christy's Facebook posts of the blog, which aren't as easily accessible to Ian, so leaving comments directly on the blog are best as they are seen directly by both of them. 

Warmest Christmas wishes to you all, as we all pray for Ian to be well,

Amber