Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Jasmina Anema Update

I don't know what to do! I'm on the verge of tears because Jasmina's condition is worsening - the cancer is multiplying - and DKMS has yet to find a bone marrow donor match for her. I can't help but look at her and see my little cousins or even one of my god-children. I am so saddened right now, that I just cannot explain it. And, to add to my frustration, my contact person at DKMS has not gotten back to me regarding some paperwork. So, there's a chance that not only may the drive I'm conducting be too late for Jasmina, but there's also a chance that it won't happen at all - to help ANYONE.

I'm not a completely religious person, but I do believe in God and attend church service - not as often as I should though. And, I do believe that He is at work here and everything is happening according to His plan and His work. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. So, while I continue to keep Jasmina and her family in my prayers, I know that God is watching over her and guiding her and taking care of her. It just hurts SO MUCH because I feel completely helpless.

It just hurts.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/03/28/2009-03-28_jasmina_anema_battling_leukemia_needs_ma.html

http://www.blackvoices.com/newsarticle/_a/jasmina-anema/20090330135909990001

~Traycee

5 comments:

A Queen Indeed said...

Hello, I stumbled across this blog and it really summed up how I feel in a few words. I heard about Jasmina's condition through BET, and I'm not a BET watcher, I'm a mother of 2, in nursing school as well as running 2 company's for my family. Since the day I went to ONEFORJASMINA, I have followed her story everyday, emailed her mother and currently working with DKMS on a donor drive in Miami,Fl scheduled for May 02,09. I felt the same way you did at first, I would call and call and not get a call back, but I didn't give up. After leaving messages I finally got a call back and I learned that they are super busy with hundreds of Leukemia patients, it just seems even worst when your helpless and waiting by the phone to save a life. If I were you I would still plan for the donor drive because God is good, and he knows what's going on every minute of the day. I also feel like Jasmina has alot of things to do on this earth before she leaves, so she has to stick around longer. It's a fact that she has opened up the eyes of alot of African American's that may have stayed closed if this were'nt to happen. Your soo right God does have a plan, and what you are going through is normal, I am living proof. 24 Hours a day I'm trying to think of ways to help her. We have to open the eyes of African Americans because 8% of us on a registry of 100% is sad. So for now keep planing and keep your faith because God is a AWESOME GOD!

Sincerly, Kaprena
kaprena@preciousmomentsevents.net

Traycee06 said...

Hi Kaprena,

Thank you SO MUCH for stopping through and your kinds words. Thankfully, I didn't give up when it came to having a drive. I've been in contact with Michele at DKMS and while it has been painstaking at times, she has been wonderful and very helpful. I'm hosting a drive for Jasmina at my job next Saturday, April 25th. It's on Jasmina's website - SO, if you know of people in the DC area, tell them to come out next Saturday. I think if you look through my posts, you'll see a copy of the press release for the drive. :)

Just like you, I don't watch BET much either - unless it's a rerun of Girlfriends or something like that. I actually found out about Jasmina when I was on People.com some time back. I look online almost everyday for new stories about her. It feels like I'm trying to help out my little sister or cousin or one of my god-children - she is just so darn adorable!!!

I was talking to a few people between yesterday & today and I said the same thing you did - Jasmina is here for a REASON....NOT just a season. She is meant to do GREAT things in this world, and the only way to ensure she does those things is to help her in any way possible - and right now, the only way to help her is to find THE ONE for her. You are absolutely right - she has definitely opened up the eyes of a LOT of people about the struggle it is to find African American bone marrow donors. They ALL seem to have the same stigma - oh, that's going to hurt. You know what my response is...SO WHAT!! WHO CARES IF IT HURTS?! You will be in pain for what...a day or two?! SO WHAT!!! For that "pain" you're suffering, you just saved someone's life! To cry about pain in comparison to saving someone's life? To give them a chance to make something of themselves in this world?! Honestly, I want to slap some of them! LOL

I'm sorry, I had to let that out - people are really pissing me off!

Again, thank you so much for stopping by :) and taking the time to post. I hope that you save my blog, come back often, and leave a message, or two...or 3 or 4...well, you get the point! LOL

Traycee :)

A Queen Indeed said...

Well I had my 1st drive on Saturday April 25, 2009 also. It wasn't my original plan but at the last minute I got invited to join the City of Miramar Florida at their Earth Day 2009 at no cost, and have a Bone Marrow Drive. My original one is set for May 2, 2009 at MLK PArk in Miami Florida. I was saddened that I only got 100registrants, I thought I would have gotten much more than that. I was also overwelmingly angry that most of African Americans turned registering down. They too cried saying it hurts, or I'm notr ready to make that commitment, like I was asking for a hand in marriage.lol, sorry but it really got to me of how ignorant people still are today! People are dying, I look at Edgerrin James and his 4 kids and think that someone out there could have change the outcome of their lost. As African American's we cry for years about slavery, yet we can't step up and save our own lives when asked. I have decided that even after we save Jasmina(and we will) I will continue to educate Black people on Diseases like Leukemia, as well as other insights we need to look at that cost us everyday! It's just so ignorant to have 10 out of 100 African Americans sign up to be a Bone Marrow Registrant. I guess for a last minute drive it wasn't so bad! But very sad!!!!
Nice venting to you, talk to you soon!

Traycee06 said...

Hey Queen! Way to go on your drive!!! You should be VERY PROUD of yourself. My drive went well also, though not as well as I would have liked. We registered 150 people and raised almost $1000 on Saturday.

TRUST ME, you were not the only angry one on Saturday. I was BEYOND disappointed at the amount of people who just said "no" or "I don't have time". I was truly shocked at the amount of people who walked by without even stopping and it was so sad. The only thing I could say, and my volunteers began saying - because we were all so frustrated - was that we hoped these people wouldn't need the magnitude of help that Jasmina needs. We were able to stop MANY parents who were out with their kids and a few of whom were pregnant. I also thought my turnout would have been greater, but I was happy with the turnout that I did have.

You know, the best part of the day was when we were cleaning up - there was quite a bit of the snacks left over. So, we decided instead of everyone trying to take something home, we would give it to the local Catholic Charities shelter that was right around the corner. We just happened to stop by when people were having dinner and they were beyond thrilled to see 9 boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts, danishes, bagels (for breakfast), and other things. I had one guy trying to peak into the box I was carrying. Even though the drive itself was rewarding, being able to feed people at the end was the highlight of my day - I felt so good after leaving there.

I also believe that we will save Jasmina. She's here for a reason, not just a season (as my uncle would say). I'm looking foward to my next drive - I'm sure we'll begin talking about that by the end of the week. And you are SO right, we DO need to educate our people about diseases such as Leukemia. I still ask this question, what difference will a little bit of pain make from the donation process compared to saving a life?! THERE ISN'T A COMPARISON!!!

The football star that came out to help, Tom Zbikowski, was SUCH a sweetheart! I cannot wait to work with him again. He has SUCH A BIG HEART!!!

OK, I've got to go through all of this stuff so I can send it back to DKMS. We'll talk again soon. I hope you took pictures so we can share! :)

~Traycee

Anonymous said...

good news jasmina left the hospital yesterday 7-24-09 she will be home for 6 months . she will be tested every quarter for 2 years if she stays well she should be ok . see the new york daily news
they had an article on it