I am not feeling at all myself lately. Not many people can say that and really mean it. It turns out that I am a chimera.
A chimera is a mythological creature that breathes fire. It has the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent.
A chimera is a fanciful plan, an unlikely scenario.
A chimera is an organism with two or more distinct genetic aspects. 8% of fraternal twins are chimeras.
I'll bet you can figure out which kind of chimera I am. One of the tests that are routinely run for people who have had a stem cell transplant is called a chimerism test. This test is initially done about 30 days after the donated stem cells have been transplanted. The test determines what percentage of my bone marrow is from my brother and what percentage is from me. The first chimerism test indicated that my marrow was 92% from my brother Michael. This is a good thing. Eventually Michael's contribution to my bone marrow will be close to (or equal to) 100%.
My blood type has always been A positive. My brother’s blood type is O positive. Even though my blood type is A positive, when I get a transfusion, which has been once a week, I am transfused with O positive red blood cells. Eventually I will be producing O positive blood myself.
It is a strange and almost magical process and through it all I’m feeling fine, so does my brother, I can tell.
3 comments:
How absolutely cool! Now the question is....are you becoming Michael or is part of him becoming Jeff? One could dream up a very interesting sci-fi thriller about this.
I appreciate the feeling of being tethered when on the IV. I've been doing IVs of antibiotics everyday since the middle of Jan. Although I am feeling better, I've begun to dread the time when I have to hook up, even though I have much to keep me busy while I'm draining the bags (and often fall asleep instead of doing any of them). I should look forward to it, as it is the means of getting better, but I hate the loss of freedom, insubstantial as it is. Wierd. Life spins into smaller and smaller circles of self-awareness during protracted illness. One becomes so tuned to the minute fluctuations in the physical. Perhaps it is the overwhelming desire to be well that is trying to pick up on the subtle inuendos of the body as measurements of wellness?
And feeling better is such a delicious gift, isn't it!!! The awareness that this magical machine created by the master craftsman is capable of such incredible regeneration!! How can we not give thanks?
We will miss seeing you with Barbara, but you are doing great work! You are in our thoughts....
Linda King
Chimeras. You and Tyler Hamilton! First the doping and now this. Maybe you should buy a racing bike...
So glad to hear you are feeling fine.
We love you.
deb
Hi Jeff,
The card from your SPM colleagues is in transit at this moment; it made a stop at the JH for additional warm messages. ETA is this week.
False modesty on your part: your writing is wonderful.
Student Council sponsored a "block party"/dance tonight. It was so nice to be outside in the end-of-summer air.
It's time for another medical update. Let us know the latest.
Love and good wishes,
Patrice
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