a tearjerker

There are many things I have learned so far at Fletcher, but most striking this week has been the Erica Murray bone marrow drive. She was a Fletcher student, young, beautiful, hopeful for the future and very funny. She passed away last December after a 3 year struggle with leukemia. As one can imagine, the impact is still very much felt on campus and among the second year + students.

I never realized how easy it was to become a donor! I am proud to say that I am now part of the Be A Match bone marrow registry. You just wipe 4 swabs (Q-tip) in your cheek and send it in. You are on the registry until you are 61. Easy as that, and it saves lives. 

Another student in our class is the recipient of a bone marrow transplant and wrote a very moving email urging everyone to register. 

Since I didn't know Erica, it is a bit odd that I feel compelled to share all of this and her video clips, but since it impacts me, and this blog is meant to keep everyone updated, then it's valid, 

Here are her videos and her boyfriends tribute (they met at Fletcher and he is a PhD candidate)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUFB542Iak

http://ericatribute.com/

http://www.reelchanges.org/projects/show/1cbcd6c0-78f4-012c-76eb-005056c00008