SDInspires

  A Journey of Faith, Survival, and Miracles The Life-Changing News On Christmas Eve, December 25, 2021 , my husband, my mother, and I sat anxiously in front of my doctor. He spoke about the next phase of my treatment— a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) . We were completely unfamiliar with these medical terms. The doctor explained that this procedure had only a 40% success rate , meaning there was a 60% chance of losing my life . However, if we chose not to proceed, there was a 100% chance that the disease could return at any time. To move forward, a Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) test was necessary. This test determines whether a person is a suitable stem cell donor, usually a close blood relative . We had no other option. We had to proceed. The First Search for a Donor The first HLA test was conducted with my sister, but unfortunately, only 2 out of 12 markers matched . A perfect 12/12 match would have made the transplant much safer. At the very least, we needed a half-mat...

                                         1. An Elephant’s Trunk An elephant’s trunk contains 40,000 muscles, primarily aiding in eating and drinking. Elephants consume up to 140 kilograms of food and 190 litres of water daily. What a busy trunk! 2. Zebra Teeth Zebras have 40 to 42 teeth that never stop growing—an essential trait due to their fibrous diet. 3. The Speed of an Ostrich The fastest-running bird in the world is the flightless ostrich, capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph. Ostriches are also the largest living birds, growing as tall as 9 feet and weighing up to 280 pounds. 4. Mosquito Bites Only female mosquitoes bite and spread diseases, while males do not. Mosquitoes bite because they require the blood of humans and other animals to lay eggs. 5. W oodpecker’s Speed A woodpecker can peck at a rate of up to 20 times per second! The most common reason for thi...