To have REALLY judged this BFing mum with a dog?

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Yeah whatever,

Now I have your attention.

Its Billie's birthday tommorow. She would have been 19. She died aged 14 from Acute Lymphoblastic Luekemia. She was ill for two years and suffered a great deal. She bore her illness with dignity and bravery and she was the most extraordinary human being I have ever known.

PLEASE if you have ever thought about:
Giving blood
Registering as Bone Marrow Donor
Donating cord blood or
giving your time or money to charity

Would you do it now? Would a look at my DD's photo help to nudge you in the right direction?

www.blood.co.uk/
www.clicsargent.org.uk
www.teenagecancertrust.org.uk
www.anthonynolan.org/

and the www.aclt.org.uk are REALLY struggling right now.

This is my DD billie-josiah.memory-of.com/About.aspx

It is not something I share lightly. I want you all to see what is lost when cancer takes hold.

Everyone can do something, if you cant give blood please ask someone else to do it.

Thank you

ah I like the idea of giving Billie the 'bumps'

She may need a few more when I come back from dinner time (really DO need to get on with it before the kids mutiny)

What a great way to remember your daughter. She sounds like an amazing young woman.

I can't give blood at the moment but I will again as soon as I'm able and I will nag gently remind DH to keep up his appointments. I will also fill in the bone marrow form that has been on my table for weeks.

I'm already booked in for blood donating next week but I shall nag DH when he gets home to get himself booked too. I'm also on the donor register, as are most of my family but thank you for taking the time to promote this MrsDV.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Am a blood donor on a pregnant break. Will ask the MW next week about cord blood.

She was a beautiful girl, but you know that already. :) Happy birthday Billie, will be thinking of you all tomorrow x

I want to give blood but can't because i had a transfusion. Does anyone know why this is? Why can't they just test for HIV etc?

Oh MrsD

Your beautiful Billie.

You must dread these heartbreaking milestones. You really have all my sympathy.

I do give blood as much as I can, as am B- so is quite a rare group.

I am not on the bone donor register though but will register myself now.

I had no idea you could donate cord blood either - will have a look into that as may well be pregnant at the moment.

Thinking of you and your family.

Bumping for Billie

What a beautiful girl - Happy Birthday.

Last week was my 10th donation and i got a badge and everything

hey Mrs D

You have reminded me to get out the donation kit I have from Antony Nolan, sort it out and send it off. I will do it this weekend, for Billie.

Hope you have as good a day as you can tomorrow.

To be honest I have thought about it so many times, but thinking about blood makes me faint (I'm not exaggerating - I have passed out in first aid classes and biology classes when they start talking about platelets and plasma).

Anyway, that's a pathetic reason not to do something important. I have just looked at your post and your site and have registered to give blood.

Mrs D what a lovely, inspirational post. Bille was a beautiful and brave young woman. I can only imagine how much you all miss her.

I hope this inspires many people to become donors.

I have donated blood since I was 18 and am on bone marrow register already.

Hello MrsDeVere, you and I have both namechanged since I was last on here.

I can't give blood due to medical reasons, but DH does it regularly, and we are all (kids included) on the organ donor & bone marrow registers. My mum died of cancer so I know too well what it can do, and I will give blood as soon as I am able to.

Thinking of you tomorrow.

you've reminded me to get myself back on the blood donor's register. Thank you for the link. Thinking of you.

Have just added a note on my birth plan re. cord donation and will remind DH tonight that he hasn't given blood for a while.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Happy birthday for Billie x Have been a blood donor since 1990,DH gives too.It only takes a few minutes of your time to give someone a lifetime.

Thanks for the reminder - I shall look into where to donate locally (we moved).

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I am definitely going to donate after I've given birth (when I can, do you have to wait a few months?) and I'm definitely going to ask the MW about donating cord blood. I had forgotten that you could do that so thanks for the reminder .

So sorry for your loss.

I was completely prepared to donate cord blood when DD was born a year ago, but she was born on a Friday and as the labs don't open on weekends, Friday and Saturday births can't donate cord blood - a real shame. Hopefully better funding might help this situation.

Hello, just racking my brain to remember your previous name - I've changed too.

I gave blood two weeks ago, and am pleased to say my ds3 donated his cord blood at birth. Not that he was aware of it at the time obviously! It was quick, easy and painless and you get a lovely little thank you card to tell you how much the donation means to those in need. Not many collection hospitals though. I think I'm right in saying there is particular demand for non-Caucasian cord blood, but if you can consider it please do - just google NHS cord blood donation.

This April I will be running a marathon in aid of the Child Bereavement Charity and in memory of my son who was stillborn. ThefirstMrsDeVere, my heart goes out to you and to other bereaved parents - happy birthday Billie xx

Thanks for the reminder.
Early Birthday Bumps for Billie.
What a beautiful girl xx

Hi MrsDV. I can't give blood, but DH does his bit.

Happy Birthday Billie.

I'm booked in for blood doning in 2 weeks x

Hi missus - I've seen you mention Billie before, it is lovely to have a face to put to the name. She's truly beautiful. You must all miss her like mad.

I investigated the cord blood stuff but not possible up North. This is a scandal, I think. I wrote to the NHS about it but never even got a response!

Would you have a favoured charity of the ones you linked to? The struggling one?

And another bump for the birthday girl x

I can't give blood any more due to medication, but i used to, and platelets. I am a full organ donor card holder, and am talking dh into donating as we speak.

God bless your daughter MrsD, I lost my first love to this illness.