ViaCord is holding lifesaving stem cells hostage!

Week of 11/25/13..

During the most fragile and desperate time of my life,  with only a few days before KJ undergoes his bone marrow transplant we learn ViaCord is holding my umbilical cord blood hostage!  Let me restate... For only $34,000,  I can use lifesaving umbilical cord blood stored for FREE from the birth of my twins.  The plan was to use the umbilical cord blood along with the bone marrow collected directly from one of the twins.

Sure. No problem.  Would you like that in cash, check or charge?

Ooooh so this is how it works...

ViaCord offers expecting mothers to store their baby's cord blood for FREE of charge, with no monthly storage fees for up to five years IF their is a child already in the home with a chronic illness that may benefit from the life saving cord blood. Which was my situation. Well at least that is how I understood it.  I guess I should have read the fine print!

This is an excerpt directly from ViaCord's website:

Sibling connection program

Sibling Connection Program: How it works
This program provides ViaCord's Complete Newborn Stem Cell Package, which includes cord blood and cord tissue stem collection, processing and five years of storage at no cost to expecting parents who have a child in need of a transplant and meet the other enrollment requirements of the program. Any expectant family with a child who has an established diagnosis of a disease that is currently treatable with sibling cord blood may be eligible. Your child's doctor will need to complete a medical referral form for approval. Links to medical referral forms are available below.

For more information visit http://www.viacord.com

So BEWARE the storage may be FREE but to actually use the stem cells, you and/or your insurance will be charged $34,000 or more in preparation fees or some crap.

Day +194 It's Going To Be A Fun Summer!!!

I'm excited to say KJ is getting back to normal! At almost 200 days after his bone marrow transplant, his doctors say if school wasn't about to end, he's well enough to return to school. He can take swim lessons once again; he can also have soft serve ice cream, Icees/slurpees, and fountain drinks.

It's going to be a fun summer!! Blessed!!!

Day +67 This kid continues to amaze me

February 10, 2014

Day+67
KJ's appointment went well today. However, this boy continues to amaze me. Watch him assist with his own blood draw from his broviac line.. — at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

WOW! Robin Roberts retweeted KJ's100 Day Milestone!

March 27, 2014


WOW!! Finally, we have the attention of Good Morning America's Robin Roberts! She retweeted KJ's 100 day recovery picture!!
Here's her post:

Robin Roberts @RobinRoberts
Yay!! XO "@Love1Miko: @RobinRoberts 6yr old KJ is day 100 in his bone marrow transplant recovery to cure sickle cell pic.twitter.com/pr4GiJ5wbG”

Twitter / Love1Miko: @RobinRoberts 6yr old KJ is ...
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Day+ 59 No more Magnesium IV

2/3/2014

Monday's doctor appointment went well. KJ's blood & platelets levels are continuing to improve.  Although he now has to take approx. 24 pills a day, he will no longer need his daily magnesium IV infusions.  He also starts his home school instruction this week. Feeling blessed.

Day +53 Follow-up with Kidney Doctor Today

Monday, January 27, 2014

Today KJ has to see his bone bone marrow doctor and the kidney doctor. Praying for good news and continued healing!

 Test Results..

Day+53 ...Please to say KJ's doctor visits went well - no blood or platelet transfusions today. As I mentioned before, the first 100 days are the most critical in his recovery and we are almost half way there. Feeling blessed and grateful!!

Platelets over 100..

Today's doctor appointment went well. KJ's blood platelets were over 100.  He hasn't needed any blood platelet transfusions in 2 weeks. In the past, he was getting transfusion twice a day. This is great news, because it means his body is making its own blood platelets. We get the rest of the week off from the hospital!