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Transplant on hold for San Luis man
BY PAIGE LAUREN DEINER
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — April 29, 2005 - Things are starting to look up for Isidro Lopez. Four months ago, the 32-year-old San Luis, Ariz., firefighter was told he had aplastic anemia, a disease that attacks the body's red and white blood cells, and that the only cure was a bone-marrow transplant.
But now the life-threatening disease is in remission, thanks to the treatments he's been receiving, Lopez said. Carrie Lopez, his wife, said the treatment initially was given to him to buy him time to find a donor.
"Doctors are pleasantly surprised that it's working so well. We're hoping that it keeps going and keeps lasting," said Carrie Lopez.
But if it turns out that he still needs a transplant, a bone-marrow testing drive has found not one but four matches.
The odds of finding that many matches is statistically impressive. Lynn Hooker, emergency medical service coordinator for Yuma County, said in early March that there was a 1 in 3,000 chance that a match would be found among people of Hispanic ancestry and a 1 in 1 million chance of finding a match among people of other backgrounds.
"Everything's better now," Lopez said.
For months, Lopez waited to find a match and prayed that a transplant could be done so that he would not die and leave his eight children without a father.
On Monday, his doctors gave him the news about the four potential donors. But even better was hearing that his treatment is going so well he may not need a transplant at all.
"If I don't have a relapse, I won't need bone marrow, but there could be a relapse any time," Lopez said.
Lopez said he is feeling more like himself and can't wait to get back to work as a firefighter. He said the fatigue and massive bruising that had plagued him before are gone.
Most importantly, "I feel better," Lopez said.
Now he is focusing on getting back to work, he said, and is waiting for his doctors to give him approval to return to work. He doesn't know how long he will have to wait, but doesn't think it will be too long before he's back on the truck.
"I miss my job and can't wait to go back and help the people who have been helping me," Lopez said.
In the meantime, a donation from the Yuma County Fire Officer's Association may make not working a bit easier. Lopez has been unable to work since he was diagnosed in January and only part of his medical expenses are covered.
The association gave Lopez a $100 check Thursday as a "token of appreciation." Yuma County Fire Officer's Association President Dennis Light said he hopes the donation will help offset costs. He said, "We wish you all the best. Best wishes to you and your family."
Lopez took the check, smiled, and dug into a lunch that he shared with other firefighters.
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Paige Lauren Deiner can be reached at pdeiner@yahoo.com or 539-6872.
Urian awardee comes up with first digital short in 'Blood Bank'
July 15, 2005 - SIX years ago, Pamela Ann Miras swept almost all the local major awards for her short film "Reyna ng Kadiliman." The film and audiovisual communication graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman took home the Best Film Thesis at the UP College of Mass Communication, the UP Gawad Chancellor Para sa Sining Audio-Biswal, first prize in the narrative feature category of the 13th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, first prize in the narrative category of the 2nd UP Diliman Film and Video Festival, and, to top it all, the Best Short Film at the 23rd Gawad Urian from the local critics group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
After graduation, Miras worked as a production assistant, segment producer, voice-over, and writer for ABS-CBN and the advocacy channel Isla TV. She followed up her award-winning work with "Bongga: Best in Wedding Gown" after a workshop sponsored by the French Embassy in 2000.
This year, Miras comes back with her first digital short in "Blood Bank," a finalist in the short film category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. "Gusto ko lang uling gumawa ng film. 'Yung Cinemalaya lang ang nag-udyok sa akin na tapusin 'yung 'Blood Bank' (I wanted to do a film again. Only Cinemalaya prodded me to finish 'Blood Bank')," said Miras, who now works in a call center to produce her projects independently.
In Miras' third short film, a woman suffering from aplastic anemia receives weekly blood transfusions. In the blood bank, she meets a medical technician who administers the procedure. One night, she gets mugged by a thief who, after going through her things, learns more about her and becomes drawn to her. He stalks her and is led to the blood bank where he learns of her predicament. He decides to sell his blood, an act that he feels give him a sense of redemption, his way of making up for the crime he has done to her and to others before her.
Miras considers the concept of selling blood "very Pinoy" since it is "not something that is done in first-world countries. Blood is donated. It is not something you sell."
The promising young filmmaker observed that more people are now shooting their own stories in digital format or through the independent way. "Sana hindi lang ito uso (I hope this is not just a fad). Of course, at the end of the day, it is still your story, and that is why independent cinema is what it is," she added.
Miras' new work previously won Best Short Film at the Philippine Silvershorts competition of the 2nd .MOV International Digital Film Festival held last March at SM City Cebu. It was also screened as part of the Cinemanila program of the 4th Emirates Film Festival last January.
"Blood Bank" will screen on July 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Little Theater (with "Big Time"), 4 p.m., and at the CCP Studio Theater (with "Pepot Artista"), 9:30 p.m.; on July 14 at the CCP Little Theater (with "Sarong Banggi"), 7 p.m.; on July 15 at the CCP Multi-Purpose Hall (with "Big Time"), 6:30 p.m.; and on July 17 at the CCP Little Theater (with "ICU Bed #7"), 1 p.m., and at the CCP Studio Theater (with "Isnats"), 6:30 p.m.
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