AND THEN THE CALL CAME.

A few days ago I received a call from Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. A stem cell match has been found! Well, more accurately 3 matches have been located and I'm told they are 10 out of 10 on the genetic matching scale! After I had a meeting with members of the transplant team, doctors approved the go-ahead for a stem cell procedure. Now the real hard work begins.

Before being admitted into hospital possibly in 4-6 weeks, I will likely have a third bone marrow biopsy (ouch!) to see if the disease has progressed. The doctors told me what would happen, what could happen and what we hope will and will not happen. It was a lot of information!

I was also informed by another stem cell recipient and then by the doctors that for 2-3 months I would need to stay within one hour of the hospital in Toronto, for bi-weekly appointments, as well as in case of emergency complications. Local hospitals are just not equipped to treat the possible situations that can arise from this type of immunosuppressive condition. I will also require 24 hour care for those 2-3 months following my hospital stay and I'll have severely limited contact with other people. There are still many details to work out with the social worker at Princess Margaret. I have a dear friend who has offered to take a leave from his work as a registered nurse in order to take care of me during this period and I am incredibly thankful for him. But the truth is that this is not a job for one person. It is simply too much to ask or expect and I wouldn't let him take this on by himself. I also can't have a large number of people doing the job as it greatly increases my risk of exposure to any illness, which could be very dangerous. I'm hoping to find 2, maybe 3 more people who are able to help. Mostly it will involve helping me get to appointments, helping with meals and medication and monitoring me for fever or infection. Kind of like looking after a big baby.

The doctors have also said I will likely be unable to work for a year, particularly since I do substitute teaching, and would be exposed to hundreds of children on a weekly basis. Maybe it's time to write the Great Canadian Novel or do every painting I've ever thought of doing?

Whatever the next year looks like, please know that all your concerns and prayers and well-wishes have been and continue to be deeply appreciate. I have heard from so many people who wish they could help but don't know what to do. Here are two very useful things to do.

One, go donate blood. When I'm in hospital I will need daily transfusions because my body will stop making blood after the chemotherapy. I will need donations from other thoughtful people just to stay alive. Blood is almost always in short supply and is always needed somewhere.

Two, talk to anyone you know who is between 17 and 35 and ask them to sign up to be a stem cell donor. The process is painless. One goes to blood.ca and they will send you a kit in the mail where you swab the inside of your cheek and send it back to them and then you will be contacted if ever you are a match with someone who is in need. In Canada, a country of almost 38 million, there are only about two hundred thousand registrants, and only about half are willing to follow through when contacted.

I suspect my matches were found in Europe, where there are literally millions of people on the registry, particularly in countries like Germany with almost 4 million volunteer registrants. There is so much potential here for people to help and the ability to literally save a life through a simple donation.

So, here I go, on this adventure of stem cell transplant. Probably not as thrilling as an adventure to, let's say, Australia, but I'll bet it will be memorable if nothing else.