Home > Blogs > Tammy Lankford, > Lake Sinclair: we love it, we know it, & we sell it

Paying it forward... what can I do?

By Tammy Lankford,

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

October 22, 2010 10:23 AM

I try to live my life in a manner that is more giving than expecting. And since joining Ralph's group I've been racking my brain for a what to do, what to do. Well here's a "what I did". And let me give credit where it is due... it was Elizabeth Weintraub that inspired me.

A few weeks ago she wrote about being a bone marrow registry member. I was inspired. Now I am a member too and have sent them my DNA to be tested for a potential match. I have been blessed with good health. So has my daughter. And the thought of making it possible to give life is remarkable to me. Today I got the email saying they had received my testing kit and they'd let me know when the testing is finished.

I have admit I'm a little nervous. I really don't like pain much at all. I hit my funny bone last night and whinned about it for an hour. I hate going to the dentist and am in general a big wuss. But I would hope that if someone, anyone could ever do anything to save a member of my families life they would do it. So how can I expect any less from myself.

Consider it.

More information can be found here at BE THE MATCH

Re-Blog

Comments(21)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Suzanne- me too with the needles. But when I read about Elizabeth... I just felt I was meant to do it. And I hope I really get to save a life and not just register. Scares me to say that, but I feel called.

Oct 22, 2010 10:52 AM

Roger D. Mucci

Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH

Lets shake things up at your home today!

You are to be commended Tammy for becoming a member of the bone marrow registry and testing to become a donor..............talk about paying it forward..............amazing.

Oct 22, 2010 11:22 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

That's amazing. I hope you are a match. What a tremendous gift to give.

Oct 22, 2010 11:24 AM

SarahGray Lamm

Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC

Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

Tammie, I saw Suzanne's reblog of this and I am there with you! We have an in-person drive here in Chapel Hill next week so I will be recruiting and attending! Thank you!!!

Oct 22, 2010 11:29 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

This Pay It Forward group has got to be a great place. I'll have to stop by and check it out. I remember that post, and I remember thinking I'm too much of a chicken s*** to volunteer to donate bone marrow. Blood...no problem. Platlets, I'm there.

Oct 22, 2010 11:52 AM

Richard Ruggaber

Metro Life Homes - Los Angeles, CA

California Real Estate - (818) 422-5035

Tammy: What an amazing gift you are offering. I salute you in more ways then one. Wishing you all the best. Have a great weekend. Cheers!

Oct 22, 2010 11:56 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Roger- When I read Elizabeth's post I just felt compelled.

Donna- me too.

Sarah- I filled out all the forms on line and they mailed my "kit". Husband and Daughter assisted in the collection and mailing. Was really easy.

Chris Ann- I really hate needles, but I still have my 8 gallon pin. I haven't donated in a while... I need to get regular at that again.

Richard- I just can't imagine the fear of a very sick child. I just felt compelled.

Oct 22, 2010 12:13 PM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Gosh Tammy that really is paying it forward, you are one very special person in my eyes. You always have been :)

Oct 22, 2010 12:50 PM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Tammy - I've considered doing this too. Hubby actually has donated some many, many years ago for a friends son (that's a whole other post). Like Suzanne, I too am a organ donor.

Oct 22, 2010 12:55 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Cyn- nah, just one human on this planet trying to help another.

Donne- My daughter wants to donate her body to science. Our entire family is organ donors. In GA we can put that commitment right on our drivers license.

Oct 22, 2010 01:06 PM

JoAnn Moore

The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE

Home Loans in Delaware

Wow, Tammy. Good for you! I know of someone that has lived an additional 20+ years because of a bone marrow transplant.

Oct 22, 2010 01:54 PM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Tammy, I understand it is painful … so you will have to just give up being a wuss (LOL). I donate blood regularly. I will look into being a bone marrow donor. Thank you for the inspiration … you really did pay-it-forward.

Oct 22, 2010 02:08 PM

Hillary Kinnison

Keller Williams Coastal Realty - Dover, NH

Such a wonderful gift to give! I think that if you have the opportunity to donate the honour of saving a life will make you forget about any of the pain.

Oct 22, 2010 02:28 PM

Melanie Ross

Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA

Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828

Good for you and it pays it forward many times over to give a gift like this.

Oct 22, 2010 02:42 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

JoAnn- that makes it worth it.

Kathleen- I guess so. I hate donating blood, but there's a story behind why I do that.

Hillary- I'm counting on that.

Melanie- I really hope I truly have the opporunity to give and save a life

Oct 22, 2010 02:48 PM

Alex Morris - Austin Real Estate Agent

Austin, TX

Wow - Tammy, you rock! I helped a blogger overcome first-blogging-anxiety. You signed up to donate marrow. Apples, oranges. Good for you!

Oct 22, 2010 06:56 PM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hey Tammy, I just stumbled into this post. I feel so humbled. And thrilled that something I said or did inspired you. If I needed bone marrow, I'd hope there would be a match out there for me, and in hoping for that, I could not in good conscience not register myself. We're all in this world together and the least we can do is be there for our fellow planet dwellers.

Oct 23, 2010 04:21 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Alex- as a mom who coached little league softball for years and reading you coach baseball... you rock too. And hey... everything counts.

Elizabeth- I really had just never thought about it or considered registering until I read you had. I clicked on the link from your post and I was started. They mailed me my test kit and I mailed it back... I certainly wish more people shared your attitude about us all being in this together. And thanks for the inspiration. I can't believe you didn't get a google alert with the link back to you.

Oct 23, 2010 04:44 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

Way to go, Tammy! I’m not a bone marrow registrant, but I am an organ donor registrant. Take whatever you can from my dead body to help someone else live and then burn the rest of me. I'm also a ten-gallon blood donor, but the blood banks still won't accept blood donations from gay people, even though I've been in a monogamous relationship for 15½ years. Their loss.

Oct 25, 2010 06:44 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

It certainly is their loss Russel- and I really didn't know that. Seems really stupid being certain times of the year they have very low supplies. After all, they should test ALL blood before they use, no matter where it comes from. And I too am a registered organ donor as is my husband and daughter.

Oct 25, 2010 07:16 AM