THANK YOU MAV...i'm going to tally the donations and if we exceed it will all go to hospital fees, marrow drive fees, etc. if we are far from the cost it may not go through...not sure...i'll post details as they are set

just announced this morning:

they say that most second remissions will last less than six months
and that it's important to get the transplant before it comes back again..otherwise the chances of it working are very slim...

keep your fingers crossed this is great news!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

for those who want to donate in regards to the cost of testing at the drive, checks can be made out to "National Marrow Donor Program" (write "Sherwin Porat" in the memo field of the check) and sent to:
Friends of Sherwin Porat
c/o Private Medical Group
22600 Ventura Blvd. #104
Woodland Hills, CA 91364


in regards to other donations for medical costs, that info will be setup soon and i will update. The bands are not certain yet but all donations will be logged with names and address' so if it does go through, we will have bands sent out to you!

THANK YOU AGAIN - i cannot say this enough for all the support!

 

Just spoke to Jenny (sherwin's girlfriend) and she is organizing the marrow drive along with handling any donations that people have been inquiring about.

If you would like to make a donation in regards to Sherwin directly for Medical costs and things of that nature please make them payable to "Jenny Wong".

For donations for the bone marrow drive that can be made to "National Marrow Donor Program".


All donations will be collected at the medical center.

Friends of Sherwin Porat
c/o Private Medical Group
22600 Ventura Blvd. Suite 104
Woodland Hills, CA 91364


Please write "Sherwin Porat" in the memo field of the check and if you can include your full name, mailing address/email address if possible that would be great. i have spoke to jenny in regards to the bands and we will try to raise enough funding for the bands but we are not definate about getting them as of yet. if you leave us your name and mailing address we will make sure you get a band mailed to you once those are put into production.

Thanks again for all of your support and time from Jenny, myself, the Porat family and of course Sherwin!

 

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to send out a quick reminder for Sherwin's Bone Marrow Drive this Sunday, and update you guys on his progress. It'll be great to see you all out here...and if you hadn't signed up yet, but still would like to be tested and put on the registry, feel free to come on out! I got Olive Garden to donate salad and breadsticks, and we'll have popsicles, juice and some other goodies for after you get tested! Also, be sure to fill out a colored paper heart with your name and/or message to Sherwin (I'm putting together a scrapbook for him, so he knows how many people care about him!) If you lost the info on the drive, here it is:

WHERE: Woodland Hills Medical-Dental Plaza
Offices of Robert K. Hanson, MD
22600 Ventura Blvd. #104
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(Southwest corner of Ventura and Sale Ave., between Shoup and Fallbrook)
(Plentiful free parking in rear of the building)

WHEN: Sunday, August 7, 2005
2:30-5:30pm

Please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns: jenwong49@hotmail.com or (818)635-0947.

****A quick update on Sherwin's progress:
After two grueling rounds of chemo (the first one didn't work), the doctors tell us that he is in a very early remission. This is such great news, as it gives us some more time to find a match and get him a transplant. (Unfortunately, because most second remissions last fewer than six months, time is still of the essence.) Sherwin's hanging in there, definitely feeling the effects of the chemo (he's lost weight, fatigued, low blood counts, nausea, stomach pain, etc.) but he was bolstered by the news of his remission.

Unfortunately, the second round of chemo has brought on other complications. He's had a flare up of pancreatitis (which had him laid up last year for 2 1/2 months.) The doctors are suggesting I.V. nutrition again, and stopping his food intake for the next 6 weeks to let his pancreas rest, and then they'd go in and surgically drain the pancreatic pseudocyst that has grown to 6cm in the past month. We've been through this before, and it's tough, but I know he'll get through it. The only problem is that it will interfere with his next projected round of chemo, so they are going to have to figure out a way to work that out. He's a bit frustrated at this piece of bad news, but trying to keep his chin up. On a good note, his blood counts are on the rise, so as soon as his white cells get a bit more elevated, he'll be able to go home. He's definitely looking forward to that...even if it is with I.V. bags. Six weeks in the hospital is enough to drive a person nuts!! He's doing pretty well, considering everything. Sherwin is so resilient...always musters up a smile for me, even when I know it's difficult to do so.

I've been keeping him abreast of the AMAZING response I've gotten from all of you....and he is truly touched and moved by it all. So please know that you're generosity, support and love don't go unnoticed. Thank you so much for everything you have done and are doing! From sending donations to cover the cost of testing, to sending cards, emails, etc...it is all greatly appreciated. We are so fortunate and thankful to know such wonderful and giving people! Thank you from me, from Sherwin, and from his family. I look forward to seeing some of you on Sunday!!!

Love,
Jenny

 

Hey Jenny!

I have no idea how come I haven't seen your post here before (thou my vision never was my stringest suit), but someone brought it to my attention after I posted this message - https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=310873

Just wanted to make sure with you if both tests will take place in the same day so no-one gets confused.

Thank you!
Tell the kid he better get better or I'll kick his skinny a$$ .

Moti.

 

Moti,

it's me, Krist, posting in lieu of Jenny and the answer to your question is YES both drives will be going on to open more channels for people to come and participate. if you have specific questions you might want to call jenny directly since i've been posting on the boards for her.

and to clarify, the one beign held in Woodland Hills will be drawing blood while the others held by the family will be the swabbing of the cheek method.

thanks for the help everyone!


moti!

~ krist

 

i have some sad news to report but currently without too much detail.

Sherwin and his family have decided last monday that they will no longer be going to texas and will proceed treatment with a highly respected doctor in Israel. His treatment at Cedars has basically reached the end of it's rope and they pretty much have said that they can no longer do anything for him. He has since then been getting transfusions from cedars and been resting at home. He and his family feel that this is his only chance while everyone is engulfed with mixed emotions since everything is happening so fast. A reason for the decision to go to Israel rather than stay here is the amount of time that they feel Sherwin has left and the amount of time it takes to conduct all the tests and procedures. Sherwin and his family will be flying out to Israel today at noon.

There cannot be enough said for all the support from you guys. Sherwin is a strong person with the biggest heart. Your prayers and thoughts do not go unnoticed and drives sherwin to keep fighting.

sorry, i don't have much detail but will keep everyone posted as i receive more information.


Thank you guys n' gals so much for your support!

 

I will continue to pray for Sherwin.

 

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=317261

 

Here is the latest news from Jenny, his girlfriend...

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the lapse in updates on Sherwin's progress; things have just been
happening very quickly. I do have some very good and hopeful news to report
though. Sherwin is now 9 days post-transplant! Dr. Slavin in Israel
harvested Sean's (Sherwin's brother) stem cells last week, and infused them
into Sherwin over a period of two days. Prior to the transplant Sherwin had
undergone additional chemo, some radiation, an infusion of Sean's white
cells, and a monoclonal antibody in preparation for the introduction of the
new stem cells. Needless to say, it's been tough physically and emotionally
on Sherwin (and his family) to undergo all of these procedures and their
side effects(especially so far away from home), but he's doing very well
under the circumstances.

It is still early to determine the level of success of the transplant, but
the doctors are happy with Sherwin's progress and current status. He's
suffering some of the effects of radiation (terrible throat pain and mouth
sores) as well as some nausea from chemo and lack of white cells, but all in
all, he's kept his amazing positivity and upbeat attitude. It's so
difficult for me to not be able to physically be at his bedside as he's
battling this right now, but we talk several times a day and through the
internet...so that does help both of us tremendously. Even through all of
his pain and suffering, Sherwin still manages to make sure to ask about life
back here at home, and make sure I'm eating and sleeping ok. I'm amazed by
his grace and strength through all of this.

The even more wonderful news is that, if all goes well and his blood counts
start to increase (indicating the new marrow is producing healthy blood
cells and the transplant has "taken"), he'll be discharged from the hospital
in three or four weeks--as long as he's infection-free. He'll still need
daily monitoring of his blood counts, but he'll be able to live in a nearby
apartment and be treated as an outpatient as long as things stay stable.
I'll be heading out to Jerusalem to stay with Sherwin and his parents in
late October...it will be so great to see him!! So, although there are
still some big hurdles to clear, there is also so much hope and light to
lead us through the darkness. And that has so much to do with the
tremendous support that so many of you have shown throughout Sherwin's
journey! I want to thank each and every one of you who have shared
thoughts, prayers, stories, encouragement and love with Sherwin and me.
Each one of you is a gift that we treasure...and know that we are so touched
by your overwhelming response to our emails and updates. I can't tell you
enough how much your emails to him through the Hadassah Hospital website
meant to Sherwin. He had been feeling so separated and far away from his
family and friends back in the United States...being in a scary new place,
with his fight for wellness taking on a new sense of urgency...and yet in
those first days at the hospital, the nurses would come in in the morning
with large envelopes filled with messages left for him on the Hadassah
website. He looks forward so much to receiving those messages, and knowing
that he is being sent prayers and thoughts from halfway around the world.
Thank you thank you thank you for reaching out to him.
It has brought him through the fire thus far, and will continue to do so.

I will be sure and update more frequently as Sherwin's condition
develops/improves, and look forward to the day that I can write an email
from Israel telling you that I am by his side once again! (And then look
forward to that day in the future that I can tell you that we are headed
back home for good....cancer free.) Thank you for all of your love and
support!

Love,

Jenny

P.S. If you'd like to send Sherwin a message at the hospital, log on to:
http://www.hadassah.org.il/English/E...nd+a+Greeting/

(Under "Hadassah:" click on "Ein Karem", and under "Department:" click on
"Bone Marrow Transplantation"; Sherwin's full name is: "Sherwin Porat")