Health
Blood Brothers
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Submitted by Lane Collier
What does it take to be a hero? How about saving a life?! Doesn’t saving a life call for a celebration? You bet! Twenty extra years of real, lived life was the occasion celebrated the weekend of May 31 through June 2 at the home of Lane Collier.
Back in 1993 Gates’ and Lane’s son, Van Wesley “Rip” Collier, then 34, was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant in an attempt to save Rip’s life. His name was placed on the Bone Marrow Register and new hope began with the search for a donor. Within a year a prospective donor was found and tests revealed that Rip and the donor were a match! A trip to the University of Minneapolis Medical Center for transplant surgery resulted in extended life for Rip!
Naturally, the Colliers immediately wanted to thank Rip’s donor, but necessary regulations allowed no contact with Keith Oxley until after a year had passed. Once they were able to get in touch with Keith, however, a lasting friendship began. Keith, Maria, and their teenage children, Jacob and Erin, are now considered “part of the family”. After all, day in and day out Keith’s bone marrow runs through Rip! During the weekend it was delightful to watch the interaction between Keith’s children and Rip’s kids, Casey and Colby; they instantly formed a bond!
Friday, the Oxleys motored to Baton Rouge from Loretta, Tennessee and remained house guests until Sunday. Twenty eight family members and close friends enjoyed a typical laid-back Cajun weekend complete with a Friday night barbecue and a Saturday crawfish boil. As lagniappe to the party fun, a 27 foot water slide was set up in Lane’s spacious backyard for kids of all ages – 8 to seniors!
In addition to news about the party weekend, what does Lane want readers to know? In her own words, “First of all, how important it is to be a bone marrow donor. It’s not really that hard and the reward is great; and second, how two people and their families came together as life-long friends through such tragedy. If not for Keith and God, we wouldn’t be having this occasion, and that’s not the end – they plan to come back in September!” A one-time stranger saved Rip’s life, but Keith is no longer a stranger.
Want to become a bone marrow donor? Go to marrow.org/Home.aspx then click “Join the Registry”.
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