Monthly Archives: August 2007

… donate bone marrow to save a life.

People with coeliac disease may not donate their bone marrow to help people with leukemia who need a bone marrow transplant.

I’d never thought about it before, but I suppose it makes sense, since coeliac disease is an auto-immune problem. You’d hardly want to donate another problem to someone so seriously ill!

But your friends may be able to donate. Ask them if they’d consider joining the register of bone marrow donors. There may not ever be a match – but if someone did match them, they could save a life.

Visit the Anthony Nolan Trust site for more information. If you’re in America, visit the American Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

You can give blood, though …

Just back from a 2 day transatlantic trip to Boston, Mass, he unpacks his bag to reveal:

11 packets of our coeliac’s favourite GF pasta: Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta!

This pasta is not available in the UK – I’ve investigated, and no-one here imports it. And the manufacturer hasn’t ever replied to an email from me …

So – a happy house here (pasta tonight), except that he needs a physiotherapist after carrying all that pasta in a shoulder bag.

And possibly a business opportunity. Do you suppose there is a market in the UK for Ancient Harvest?

I just have to point you to this picture of Jessica Pikul’s tattoo, which I saw on The Loom blog today.

It is an image of one of the segments of the gluten protein that coeliacs can’t digest, placed in front of a spacescape.

Jessica’s explanation of the tattoo is that it is describes the ‘universality of the physical laws that govern the microscopic and the macroscopic’.

I’m not quite sure what she means, but one meaning could be that she (living, breathing, thinking, complex being) can’t escape her genes … and it started me thinking.

Why would you want a tattoo? (I’m just squeamish)

Why would you want an image of a gluten molecule on your thigh? (It is rather beautiful – but unusual!)

What is the link that Jessica sees?

Is she as open about being a celiac as she is about displaying her tattoo to the world?

This is the best I could come up with. Jessica – if you’re reading this – please explain?

Six reasons why having coeliac disease is like having a tattoo:

• Like a tattoo, coeliac disease is forever

  Yes, you can ‘erase’ a tattoo with surgery – and you can ‘erase’ the symptoms of coeliac disease with a gluten free diet, but you will still be aware of the rubbing-out.

• Like a tattoo, coeliac disease is something people will notice and comment on

  A tattoo is a choice, of course, which may mean that you are happier to have it discussed in public, but I bet it gets wearing, just like comments on your ‘funny diet’.

• Both can be hidden – but not in all situations

  Depending on where your tattoo is on your body – […]