Thank you for sharing that. Years ago during a press conference for the announcement of the approval, a man approached my boss and I and asked who we were in all of the crowd of those involved. He told me something to the effect of "a year ago I was told to start planning my funeral, and now I feel better than I have in years, so thank you for what you did". (and trust me, I was just one very small part, but we all did in 72 days from the time in the door until the approval, what we are mandated to do in 6 months, it was a very tough 72 days for all involved.) Anyway, as I walked away from this guy, rather speechless which as folks on here may notice I am seldom speechless - my boss quietly said to me, on those days where you wonder why you do what you do, remember how you feel right now. Again, I was a small part, and any scientist of my background could have done it, but it was a very big deal to be a part of it.

It is always nice to hear a good story. Yes, it will not work forever. There are new drugs on the market that were tested for Gleevec-resistant CML, so there are options. But it is seen more as the thing that can buy more time until a marrow match is found. I'm glad your friend found one and do tell him I wish him nothing but health and happiness and many wonderful roads ahead of cycling. And thank him too for reminding me why I do what I do (cause it sure isn't for the fame and fortune )

My friend who I spoke of earlier, when I said to her "well what is this girl taking" and she told me, and I asked her if she realized I had been involved, she basically just teared up and the conversation stopped. But then I came back to my town and I had an email from her saying she couldn't talk about it with her daughter around as she wants to be strong in front of her, but that she wanted to say that my co-workers and I do something quite important and she wanted to thank us for all we did. Sometimes it is nice to hear that. As the feds, we are too often the bad guy. I understand it, everyone needs someone to blame and we're a big target, but sometimes it does hurt. Case in point, my sister is now on a lung cancer drug that was also part of my work. I defy some of my work's detractors to tell me I'm not trying to cure cancer, or that I don't care. It's my sister's life we're talking about here!

One other off the topic story - and sorry to take the thread drift further. I rode in the LiveStrong bike ride last August and felt myself compelled to go introduce myself to a group belonging to a team called the Pharma Peloton. I said, are you all pharmaceutical industry folks, they said yes, I said "FDA". The all shook my hand and one guy said "you guys do a very difficult job and you don't get nearly the credit you deserve". I was shocked, I literally stammered out a "wow, man, really, thank you!". They then pointed at their jersey, which had the name of a chemotherapy drug on it and said that the one guy riding with him, that drug saved his life. He was diagnosed 3 yrs ago and that day rode a 60 mile ride. He told me "thanks to you guys for this drug". It wasn't one of mine but I promised to pass it on to the folks involved, which I did in a mass email to the office about this experience. Many folks thanked me for sharing it as it is sometimes nice to hear the occasional "good job".

Ok, back to bone marrow donation - still no email response from my friend, not sure how often he checks his email though, but I'm sure I'll hear some details from him soon and I'll pass them along.