Collateral Goodage

Ok, maybe that isn't a word.

But good things happen from bad things. While we didn't stop President Bush on his stem cell veto nor help the Middle East peace, some good has come of this year in our lives (in addition to grandchildren). No better example than a bulging manilla envelope in the mail today.

Inside were 54 envelopes from the Carolina Blood Bank, each from someone who donated a pint of blood in Drew's honor back in June. We knew a few - soccer sideline friends and nurses we won't forget. Add that to the similar number of donors to Duke's Stem Cell center, dozens more who donated to local cancer societies and similar charities, and the awareness that Drew's disease caused. Ben is even confusing the Australians trying to become a bone marrow donor in Oz.

We don't know what the doctors and specialists and nurses learned from Drew's adventure into their careers, but many told us the emotional side and a few wrote to describe how it positively changed their approach to medicine. While he will be a negative data point in a clinical trial report, his trip through the cancer hallways may have taught someone something that they will use again.

Maybe, just maybe, his journey will cause someone else's journey to end better. We hope so.