no words from me today, world; my mind is complicated and o'erteemed and truth does not fall easily from these un-cherry lips.
felki forwarded charlotte's email to me earlier.
"...As the infections can be very serious if not kept in control, the doctor has strictly advised that only immediate family members visit him at the hospital so that he may recover from these infections and continue with his treatment. Therefore, please know that your concern and help extended in the past weeks are greatly appreciated in ways we can never fully express in words, but it is for his best interests that visiting be stopped for this period.
It is hoped that a bone marrow transplant can be carried out for him after several rounds of chemotherapy which will place him at a higher chance for a cure...
...Melvin's sister and brother-in-law have already stepped forward to increase the chances that someone can find a suitable bone marrow in us to conduct a transplant. I am too. I didn't before because I never knew how I could literally save the life of someone else. This isn't just about Melvin, it is about any other leukaemia patient. I witness firsthand, with more than half of my waking hours everyday, how Melvin battles the illness. You can never imagine the intensity of hope that is held by a leukaemia patient and his loved ones, and Melvin represents everything dear and close to my heart.
...
The (bone marrow donor program) will only get in touch with you for your consent to donate your marrow only if your HLA matches perfectly with that of the patient in need. However, I truly wish that no one decides to deny someone else the chance at a cure should a match be found. The test is just a finger prick, and you can go with your friends at the times stated at the donor centres above.
You may be Melvin's friend from Holy Innocents', from Chinese High School or Hwa Chong Junior College, you may have known him from his BMT/Sispec/OCS/CMPB days, you may be a friend of friend, an acquaintance, you may have played badminton or soccer with him, you may have ran alongside him during the last Nike run and Standard Chartered Marathon, you may not know Melvin at all, you may know me, you may have forgotten who I am, it doesn't matter.
What matters is that everyone can help to spread the word so that we can all help to increase the size of the public registry and save more lives."
i think her words speak for themselves.