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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have REALLY judged this BFing mum with a dog?

176 replies

thefirstMrsDeVere · 19/01/2011 16:41

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

OP posts:
Dartsonwednesdays · 20/01/2011 11:50

I am a blood donor.

I am on the NHS bone marrow register

I tried to donate cord blood, but this was 10 and 7 years ago, and not available in my area then, hopefully better now.

Dad could never give blood. Mum did until had to stop for medical reasons.

Brother was a donor until medical reasons forced him to stop.

DP is a blood donor, but was too old to join bone marrow register when he heard about it, by a couple of months!

DD and DS are being brainwashed encouraged to become donors when they are old enough.

mcfee · 20/01/2011 12:04

I have just registered on the Anthony Nolan website just now. Have been meaning to do it for a while, thanks for the prompt.
Thinking of you.

Pootles2010 · 20/01/2011 12:04

I know I'm already on NHS bone marrow register thingie (signed up to it when was donating blood) do i need to go on Anthony Nolan as well?

AnnieLobeseder · 20/01/2011 12:06

I'm all registered and a donor, just wanted to polish my halo and bump the thread.... so sorry about your beautiful DD.

Mollyfish · 20/01/2011 12:10

Happy Birthday Billie, DH and I have just signed up to our next available blood donation session. We have meant to before but never got around to it, however we will be going now in honour of beautiful, brave Bille.

lady007pink · 20/01/2011 12:12

I remember you as Chegirl, I was thinking about you recently but couldn't find recent posts.

I live in Ireland, and every June I run the Irish Mini Marathon raising loads for the Irish Cancer Society.

Your daughter was beautiful. I am so sorry for your loss.

emmanana · 20/01/2011 13:00

Please stop for five minutes and sign up to donate or register to celebrate the day this lovely girl came into the world...

BornToFolk · 20/01/2011 13:33

I've just registered with the Antony Nolan Trust. I wasn't aware it even existed before reading this thread, so thank you for posting it. I really hope I'm able to help someone.

toeragsnotriches · 20/01/2011 13:44

My mum started her journey with AML in 2002. Since then I seem to have been either pregnant or bfing but now it's all over... thank you for prompting me to sign up for Anthony Nolan.

Your beautiful daughter. She's in our thoughts x

emmanana · 20/01/2011 14:57

Bumping for Billie and her Mum

Original poster
thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/01/2011 15:27

Hello everyone.

I have just been up to the cemetary to leave some flowers and a pink ballon at the Angel Memorial. The couple who instigated the memorial had already been up and left some flowers for Billie. I am overwhelmed at their kindness amidst there own grief.

I cant describe (i really should find a way) how happy and touched I am that some of you have been prompted to sign up and/or donate. You are amazing, thank you.

Thank you for all your messages. The do mean such a lot.

I have bought the cake (Me to You Bears, she loved the horrid things!) and two MAHOOOOSIVE number ballons. I am slightly scared there will be an international airspace incident later when I let them off!

So I think we will let the ballons off and have some cake then order Pizza. I havent cried. I wish I could but I just cant allow myself somehow. Maybe one day I will feel safe enough but not now.

DS2's card for his sister is astounding. He has ASD and LDs. He was three when she died. He talks about her so much. He has made a card with a very strong Dr Who theme Grin and lots of pictures of a brown girl in a pink dress. She seems to be crying so I need to talk to him about that.
He is worried about how to deliver presents etc. Bless his little heart.

NOW GO AND GIVE BLOOD!!!! Grin

OP posts:
bloomingnora · 20/01/2011 15:37

Just a reminder to those of you who can't donate as you are pregnant or had a baby in the last nine months, the blood service will ring you or write to you and remind you to make an appointment when your nine months are up. Just ring them and they will put you on their records Smile

Kayzr · 20/01/2011 15:42

I signed up and they rang me to let me know the first blood donating thing where I live is on 3rd March.

whysolate · 20/01/2011 15:45

Beautiful girl. Happy Birthday.

To give blood is my new years resolution MrsD

My own DD was born at 28 weeks and had four blood transfusions.

Off to do it now.Grin

beijingaling · 20/01/2011 16:01

Neither Aus or the Uk will take me blood due to living overseas. Wish I could. Have made a donation to cancer research instead.

Thinking of you and your family MrsD.

Quenelle · 20/01/2011 16:06

I'll be giving blood at first opportunity.

Will be thinking of your family and your beautiful daughter today.

Mists · 20/01/2011 16:07

Happy birthday Billie you gorgeous girl x

systemsaddict · 20/01/2011 16:31

MrsdeVere, thinking of you today. A salutary reminder, I haven't given blood since having dcs (before that was regular donor, lost dad to CLL). Will go and check next local date now and put it in diary, you have done a good thing nudging so many of us. So sorry you lost your lovely girl, she is beautiful.

zukiecat · 20/01/2011 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emmanana · 20/01/2011 16:36

Posted a link on my FB page and a fair number of colleagues and friends have now sent off for test kits.
Bless you Billie!
Go Girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Original poster
thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/01/2011 17:13

Wouldnt it be wonderful if every year on 20th January and 27th April all of the services noticed a mysterious surge in calls and enquiries Grin

They would wonder about it in staff meetings and one day at some sort of blood/marrow/cancer conference thingy they would mention it to each other (just in passing) and they would all be astounded!

The Billie phenomena/non (where is a pedant when you need one!)

OP posts:
ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 20/01/2011 17:46

Yes, wouldn't that be incredible!!

Have you posted another thread? I think some people might have missed this one, I nearly did, as I didn't want to get into any arguements yesterday... maybe post a thread with a link to this one. Happy Birthday Billie - can anyone help? Something like that??

PumpkinM · 20/01/2011 18:23

I'm registered as a blood and bone marrow donor.

FYI, however, I've just checked with the National Blood Service and they say that you should not give blood for 9 months after giving birth. I'll be donating in April.

Indith · 20/01/2011 18:30

Happy birthday Billie.

I already give blood, am on the marrow register (was once found to be a possible match but I had just become pg with dd when Igo tthe call. I hope that they found another match :() and carry an organ donor card. Well odne to all the peole who have gone to register or donate for the first time :)

emmanana · 20/01/2011 19:53

bumping...