Natalie Curry – Cord Blood Saved My Life

Justin and I on the Caribbean Cruise

I want to share with you a story that will be found in my upcoming book.

“The Ride To Far Away”

The year was 1989 and one family traveled to the distant place of Paris, France. One dad, one mom, one grandma and two sisters embarked upon what would be the trip of a lifetime.  When I was four years old we went to Paris for my cord blood transplant. “Why Paris” you ask? Paris had more experience with transplants of this kind and had much higher success rates. I don’t recall much of my families trip to Paris but there is one event that has never escaped my mind. In the US my mom was always with me, she was at every test, and every doctors visit. Of course I was only an infant and in the US it was very common for parents to be with their children 100% of the time.

I’ll never forget when the day had come for me to receive my radiation. This was the day that would determine weather I would be traveling home in a coffin or in the comfort of my moms arms. The radiation treatment was going to take place in a different hospital across town. Mom had made preparations to go with me to receive my treatment. When the morning arrived for us to leave the doctors informed her she would NOT be going with me,and that it was against there protocol.

With this news mom became very upset.  She knew that this could be the last time she got to give me a hug and a kiss and tell me she loved me. She knew that this could be the last time she ever saw me alive. With this huge reality sinking in the once invincible woman sat down on the edge of my hospital bed and began to cry. Up to this point in my life I had never seen her cry.

Very early in my life, practically as soon as I could talk, my Grandma J taught me how to pray. She would say “lets talk to Jesus.” We’d get down on our knees, fold our hands and close our eyes. We would pray of happy things,  to make every body safe and we would pray for my sisters at home, whom I missed so much.

When mom sat down and began to cry, I didn’t cry and I wasn’t scared. I simply said “Mommy they can keep you from going, but they can never keep Jesus from going and holding my hand.”

Mom didn’t get to go with me that day. And as you already know the radiation was a success. Now I am sitting here today very much enjoying my life! None of this would have been possible without my family and the miracle found inside of Emily’s Cord Blood.

When I was 12 I wrote a poem about this experience.

“The Ride To far Away”

There is more of this story and many others that can be found in my new upcoming book.

PLEASE let me know what you think!!

You can help raise awareness of cord blood preservation by tweeting on twitter, updating your status on facebook and spreading the word to everyone you know.

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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Over the last couple of months, I have been writing  a book about my families couragous medical journeys and how cord blood saved my life.  Now  I have something very exciting that I’d like to share with you.  The following is part of one of the many stories that will be in the book!

-The Shaving Day-

 ……………One afternoon while grandma was with me, a nurse came into my laminair flow room holding only a sterile but dull razor.  She had come to shave  all of my hair off.  I remember sitting in the middle of my hospital  bed with tears rolling down my face while grandma held on to me tight. I wasn’t afraid or sad, I was in pain. My scalp began to feel like it was on fire! As grandma watched pieces of my dark hair hit the ground she felt sorrow in that she couldn’t ease the pain it was causing. The burning presisted long after all of my hair was gone.  A few days prior I had received a low dose of Chemo therapy to treat the bad cells in my blood.  In an effort to prevent  having  my hair gradually fall out,  the nurses felt it best to shave it off.

When Dad arrived at the hospital later and noticed what had happened, he was extremely angry! He was upset that no one had infomed him they were going to shave my head.  Not only that, but he was even more furious that they didn’t use any shaving cream or water.  He confronted the nursing and staff and as he says ”They understood all of my AMERICAN curse words!” In the days following the shaving I developed a rash on my head.  Dad says I looked just as cute with a bald head.  But that seeing it reinforced that everything was really happening.  He wanted me to have a normal childhood and knew that he had to keep a positive attitude and that one day I would………………

 More of this story and many others can be found in the completed book.

July is Cord Blood Awareness month. Together we can help save lives! You can help by tweeting on titter, updating your status on facebook and spreading the word to everyone you know!

Your opinions are very important to me.  I welcome you to share your thoughts!  This is just part of my story! I am working on writing my book now and hope to be finished within the next few months.

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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Article from Womans Day Magazine, 1991

Twenty four years ago my parents were faced with a heart wrenching reality. Doctors told them I was going to die.

Doctors told my parents that my ONLY chance for survival was for them to conceive a perfect match sibling.  But not to bother because:

• The  chances of that happening were virtualy ZERO.
• Most importantly,  they didn’t have time to conceive a perfect match because I would die before that even happened.
• There was a 25% chance that any future children would also have Fanconi Anemia and also die!

Have you ever wanted to do something and had everyone telling you don’t do that, even though in your heart you knew it was the right thing to do?  If so, then you can begin to understand how hard it was for my parents to move forward and try and conceive again for only a SMALL chance at saving my life.

Even after making the decision, they were STILL confronted with HARSH criticism and were told that conceiving a child to save another was morally wrong.  My parents decison to have more children saved my life. They had more children, not because they needed them for spare parts, but because they had LOVE.  My mom has always said that if I would have died she wanted to have peace in her heart knowing that she did everything she could to save me.

Too many people place judgment upon parents who have a child to save another. So to those people: Imagine looking into your child’s eyes and knowing there is a chance they may NOT make it to high school? Can you imagine knowing there was a chance they would NOT be able to fall in love. Can you imagine theres a chance they will not grow up and start a family of their own? Can you imagine the feeling of not knowing what day could be there last?

Is there anything you WOULDN’T do?

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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My Keepers....Audrey and Emily!

This weekend is the release of the much  anticipated movie, “My Sister’s Keeper”. The movie is based on the very popular book, “My Sister’s Keeper” written by Jodi Picoult. This story is very close to my story, the only difference; mine is TRUE! If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if “My Sister’s Keeper”  was based on my family’s story I’d be a millionaire by now!!  ”My Sister’s Keeper” is practicaly IDENTICAL to our story :

• The main character and I were both terminally ill at a young age. We both suffered from renal failure and blood disaeases.
• We were both lucky enough to have  parents that would do anything to keep us alive!
• We both had countless surgeries.

BUT the biggest difference is that my sister Emily was not genetically designed , she was a miracle.  She was born a complete match, not by science but by pure chance. She never complained or even hesitated to help, and thats what makes her a true hero! She was destined to be my keeper, and when I count my blessings I count her twice!   Both stories have one huge underlying theme: family.  Without a strong, close and loving family, I wouldn’t be here today!

“My Sisters courage”, my “Mothers strength” and “my Fathers hope” are the words that run across the screen during the previews for the film. Every time I see this, I feel a tug at my heart strings.  I can’t help but feel very emotional! It is a very bittersweet feeling: I feel happy that more people will be educated on these issues, while  at the same time ,I feel a little disappointment that more people won’t realize how real this is.

There will be THINGS  in life that’ll make you happy, TIMES in life you will  never forget, but it’s the PEOPLE in your life that will  ALWAYS matter the most!

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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Justin, me, Jeff and Mom at Sweet Revenge in NYC.....enjoying amazing cupcakes!

Earlier this week while I was on my lunch break I read a very touching newspaper article that my dad mailed to me. It was a story about a little girl who suffers from A plastic anemia and is now recovering.  Her wish was to attend the Kentucky Derby and Oaks horse races. Thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation her dreams came true. I was very inspired by her amazing story. I was once again reminded how much I want to help sick children and there families.

I feel like I’m doing what I can, but it’s not enough! I am very confident that my purpose in life is to help others especially children and those going through medical obstacles. Sometimes I get frustrated that I can’t do more, and that I can’t just reach out to all of them and give them hope. I am constantly brainstorming on ways that I can make a widespread impact. Every time I end up with the same answer, a book.  And though I am pursuing that avenue as aggressively as possible I almost feel like there’s something I’m just missing.  Something that I’m so close to I can feel it!

I don’t know……. it’s a hard feeling to describe but it’s deep in my heart. Sometimes I begin to wonder if I am just dreaming too big of dream. It’s hard to tell if it’s just wishful thinking or if it really is my destiny?! One thing is for sure, I will NOT give up!

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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Emily and I on her 21st Birthday

Natalie, I just wanted to tell you directly how much your story inspired and amazed me. And how strong you were at such a young age. And i’m sure you hear that everyday but i truly think your story is amazing.

 What Emily did is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard. People keep asking me what I’m writing for my paper and I keep telling them about this really cool story about how a little sister saved her older sisters life. It is the craziest story I have ever heard.

Last night when I was checking my Facebook, I was pleased to find the above note in my inbox! It was sent to me by a high school senior who is writing a research paper about Stem Cells. I had a long conversation with her and was very happy to find out how interested she was in stem cells and all the potential that they have.

She is the second person I know this year who has done a project for school about stem cells/cord blood! This makes me very excited to know that more and more people are learning about this topic.

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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Sunday I woke up in the middle of night, shaking uncontrollably, dizzy and a little nausea. Justin woke up to find  me freaking out and tried to comfort me. I had been dizzy all weekend and was hoping it would just go away.  After the symptoms lasted all night I became a little concerned.  First thing Monday morning I called and left a message for my doctor.  When I explained everything to the doctor he suggested I come in right away. So I headed uptown on the subway which is not an easy task when you feel dizzy and shaky. My primary care doctor is located at Sloan Kettering in the pediatric unit.  Upon arrival the nurses did all of the routine vitals and were not able to read my blood pressure.   The doctors decided to run several blood teasts, urine tests and an EKG (heart test). 

While patiently waiting for my bed to become available I watched many family’s with sick children. I was extremely touched by there remarkable courage. Most of them were connected to IV’s or some form of machine. Some of them were in wheel chairs while others ran around playfully.  I felt like I could relate to many of them. Every time I see a sick child it reminds me how important the Save the cord foundations mission is.

They  started an IV and put me in a shared room with a  very sick, crying toddler and her lovely parents. The poor little girl was receiving a transfusion of plasma which is extremely uncomfortable.  She was understandably upset until she finally fell asleep. I was receiving vitamins through my IV while I waited anxiously for my test results to come back.  Finally after what seemed like days of waiting the doctors came in with the results. My diagnosis was a bladder infection, not good news but it defiantly could have been worse. They started me on a very strong dose of antibiotic one dose which I received intravenously.

Since I was still dizzy from my medicine the doctors wouldn’t let me leave alone. I called my sister Audrey who was at work and she came right over to the hospital. I was at the hospital a total of 5 and a half hours and I was ready to get home. A quick stop at the pharmacy and I was back to the apartment. I hadn’t eaten anything all day so Justin surprised me with one of my favorite meals from Peep along with desert from Sweet Revenge. It was the perfect ending to a very long day.

Together We CAN Help Save Lives,

Natalie Curry

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