Monday, July 20, 2009

Re-Post


I pulled this from the Rivals message board, help a former Auburn player out:

If you are in the Houston area please consider donating white cells, or if you know someone in the area, please pass this message along as it could help save a friend's life. He desperately needs help. If you have any questions, or would like more details, please let me know.

Our friend Brent Schoening has been battling Leukemia in Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center for the past 10 months. The details about his battle and story can be read from the news story and his sister's update below. For the past 10 months, he's endured a bone marrow transplant, heavy chemo, extreme pain, and currently has been fighting a fungus that has attacked his face, because his immune system has been eviscerated. I spoke to his mother a little bit ago. I'm not sure how he's still alive but he's fighting.

For those that don't know Brent, was a pitcher at Auburn in the late 90's. Off the field he was one of the nicest and most mild-mannered friends you could ever have....once on the mound, he was a fierce competitor that didn't like to lose....as shown by his record.

Here is the process for finding out if you can donate, per his sister's message:

If you are in the Houston area, or If you know anyone in the Houston area that can give white cells for Brent please tell them to call (713) 792-7777, Extension 5, and to tell them you are calling to find out about donating white blood cells to Brent Schoening. This is the number for the MD Anderson's blood bank and they will prescreen them to see if they qualify to give. Not everyone will be able to give - that's why we need as many people as possible to call and try and give. Please tell your family, friends, co-workers, etc, to pass this along if they know anyone in the Houston area- or anyone who can be in the Houston area, to help continue saving my brother's life. Once they are prescreened they can let us know and Mom will put them on a schedule to give for Brent.


To sign up for updates and read past updates: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/WeloveyouBrent


News story is from last December....
“Cancer Patient gets Needed Help”
Maria Jones
http://www.wltz.com/news/local/35396979.html
Story Updated: Dec 2, 2008 at 6:29 PM CDT

A community pulls together to help a man’s fight with cancer. NBC 38’s Maria Jones explains how friends and family of Brent Schoening are helping him win the fight of his life. A show of love and support for Brent Schoening. Supporters say they didn’t hesitate to help a special friend. Friend Rick Stoller “Oh yeah no problem, I mean anything you know, Anything I can do to help Brent and his family you know his wife Lauren you know she’s been down there with him the whole time, so anything we can do to help.” Thirty year old Brent Schoening and his family have called Columbus home for more than two decades. And his mom says the community has shown extra support during this difficult time. “I would just like to thank them so much for all the support and trying to help Brent means the world to all of us,” his mom, Elizabeth stated. Brent graduated from Columbus High, and Auburn University, where he played baseball and tennis. In 1999 he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. According to his mom, he had plans of returning to baseball after a shoulder injury. But found out he had Leukemia. Many of Brent’s family and friends described him as mild mannered but very competitive when it comes to sports. They all said they are pulling together to show their support, because he’d do the same, if they were in need. Columbus High Baseball Coach, Bobby Howard said, “It’s a tough situation but I know Brent’s a very tough kid. He’s very competitive and high character and I know things are going to work out.” Another friend, Shaun Dunaway added, “The way that his general disposition is, I just sort looked at it like he’s going to be okay.” Brent has been scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant next month. And family and friends are hopeful it will be a success. Friend, Josh Hudson stated, “I mean we’ve been through a lot. Ups and downs and you know obviously he needs us and our prayers and all to get through this.” For WLTZ NBC 38, I’m Maria Jones. Due to an overwhelming response, an additional blood drive will be held again, this Saturday from 9am until 5 pm. If you’d like to help, the blood mobile will be set up next the Gold’s Gym on Woodruff road, across from St. Francis Hospital. Brent is currently undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.


Sister's update from today, July 18, 2009....
Brent needs more white cells
Posted 1 hour ago
Hi everybody- just an fyi-Please hit the more button at the bottom of the update to see the continued message- you can on the past updates as well.

So Mom spoke with his Doctors yesterday, and this is what we need. White cells and PRAYERS! The Doctor told him that right now the white blood cells that Brent has been receiving for the past two weeks are the only thing ~besides our prayers~ that are keeping him alive. For those of you that don't know Brent had a horrible fungus a couple of weeks in his face and he had major surgery to remove it, which was very dangerous considering that he had no white cells to fight the infection. The Doctors believe that they got it all; however the white cells that Brent has been receiving are the only things keeping it from coming back,so we need more to continue fighting the infection. White cells are hard to come by because the hospital does not have any,because they are only good for ten hours before they expire. Therefore we have to rally and find people to supply them for Brent.(It's like giving blood) We have been fortunate enough thanks to family and friends to have Brent white cells everyday for the past 2 weeks, and Mom has someone scheduled for this next week until Sunday the 26th. Donors are able to give again,up to 5 times every other day. So if you guys know anyone that has already given and wants to give again please let us know.

If you guys know anyone in the Houston area that can give white cells for Brent PLEASE tell them to call this number- 713-792-7777 extension 5. This is the number for the MD Anderson's blood bank and they will prescreen them to see if they qualify to give. Not everyone will be able to give, that's why we need as many people as we can to call and try and give. Please tell your family, friends, etc, to pass this along if they know anyone in the Houston area- or anyone who can be in the Houston area, to help continue saving my brother's life. Once they are prescreened they can let us know and Mom will put them on a schedule to give for Brent.

We also need more prayers. We have to pray that the Donors marrow comes back - the healthy marrow starts producing in Brent's body. And that the leukemia does not ever come back. If Brent can keep this fungus at bay with our help, and the good cells start producing then the Doctors are going to give him some more stem cells to help him keep the leukemia away.

After all that he has been through he is still fighting. He is finally trying to eat more and bless his heart he is doing a good job- This is a miracle in itself- and an answer to a lot of prayers! There is no doubt that your prayers have been the best medicine that he has received and will continue to receive.
Please continue to pray for our family as well and we thank you all for your prayers, love, support and white cells!

1 comment:

  1. God bless you and you family Brent! You are in all of our prayers! I hope that everyone fowards this to every member of the Auburn family that they know,as I have, so that we can get the word out that one our own needs our help and our prayers! War Eagle and keep fighting buddy!

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