"Once you choose hope, anything's possible." -- Christopher Reeve
Genny's Hope
Last spring I walked on Florida's white sandy beaches. I felt the sea breeze in my hair and sand between my toes. I watched children build sand castles. I heard sea gulls call. The experience inspired me to order an umbrella drink at a nearby beach bar.
Two months later, my friend Ann Haehn walked on that same beach. She, too, felt sand between her toes, but that's were the similarity between our experiences ended. When she watched children build sand castles, she thought of her 33-year-old daughter Genny who has a rare form of chronic leukemia known as myleofibrosis. Ann prayed that a donor would be found to give Genny the bone marrow transplant she desperately needs to save her life. Only then could Genny take her 8- and 12-year old children to the beach to build sand castles. Ann heard God calling. The experience inspired her to start a foundation that would save lives by getting more people to sign up for the bone marrow registry.
That's the difference between Ann and me. I heard the call to have a pina colada. Ann heard the call to save lives. When the call came through her, I joined her efforts.
Ann assembled a powerful group of friends, family and business associates to start an organization called Genny's Hope Foundation. We are a non-profit organization whose goal is to recruit one million new donors to the bone marrow registry over 25 years. What's more, the organization is raising funds to purchase the cheek-swab kits needed to register donors. That allows donors to be placed on the registry at no cost to them.
Go to Gennyhope.org to learn about bone marrow donation and find out how you can help save lives.
Let me end with good news. A match has been found for Genny. Her bone marrow transplant is scheduled for January. This has made Ann even more committed to Genny's Hope Foundation. She remembers the elation she felt when Genny's doctor told her a match had been found. She didn't want anyone to get the news that their loved one would die waiting for a match.
Next time I hear sea gulls call or watch children play I will appreciate the beauty of life. I will also think about the power we all have to save lives.
