Page 7 - RVO What Women Want Nov 2015

What Women Want • An Advertising Supplement to the River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • Sunday, November 8, 2015 • 7VV
and Chris Tindall of Greenbrier, and their church, Choctaw Christian Center. “I got a lot of response saying how amazing it was that I was doing this for somebody, but my response to that was, ‘I’m just God’s messenger.’ He has a mes- senger for this lady who has leukemia. God made me her match,” Romero said. Her husband was supportive from the get-go, she said. Although three of her children were too young to really un- derstand it, her oldest son, Hunter, was
duly impressed.
“Hunter, he was so honored that his
mom was doing this,” Romero said. “He said, ‘Mama, you’re going to get on this plane a mom, but you’re going to come back a superhero.’ I thought that was precious.”
Her mother, Charlotte Mitchell, kept the four children when Romero and Hankins went to Washington. The day before they left, Hankins ran a De- lete Blood Cancer 5K in Little Rock in Romero’s honor, and Romero attended to watch.
Hankins said she was in “complete shock” when Romero got the call that she was a match.
“It was a very emotional experience — emotional seeing her go through it and leaving her four kids and my two kids to go all the way to Washington for a complete stranger. It was a very hero- ic move on her behalf, I think, because she didn’t even think twice about it,” Hankins said. “She said, ‘If something were to happen, I would want someone to do the same thing for me.’”
It was Romero’s first time to fly, she said, but her family had been to D.C. on a vacation this summer.
She and Hankins arrived at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital early for the outpatient procedure.
“They took it directly from my stem cells, so it wasn’t too bad,” Romero said. However, she did have some compli- cations. The veins in her arms wouldn’t
support the IVs.
“It was a huge needle,” Romero said.
“It was intense. My veins were too small, too weak.” She had to be sedated, and a central line was placed in her neck. “There’s a machine hooked up behind me that sorted [blood] — stem cells in
SUBMITTED PHOTO Ashley Romero’s four children display T-shirts made by her friend LaCosta Beene, declaring “My Mom Is A Match.” Wearing the shirts are, back row, from left, Romero’s sons, Fisher, Hunter and Joel Daniel, and her daughter, Amillia. Romero, who had her cheek swabbed at a bone-marrow drive in 2012, matched a woman in France. Romero also helped organize a bone-marrow drive
FASHION ensembles Autumn attire
this month for another woman.
one bag and plasma in another.”
It was supposed to be a six-hour pro- cedure, but it took 14 hours because of
the complications, Hankins said. Romero was released that night, and she and Hankins flew back to Arkansas the next day. Although Romero tired easily for a short time afterward, she has
rebounded. “Now—Iguessit’sbeenamonth—I
feel completely back to myself,” she said. Romero said she paid “not one dime”
for the procedure.
“I’ve had a lot of people ask me how
they can do it. You can get on deleteblood cancer.org. Click ‘become a donor’; they will send you your swabbing package. You can swab your own mouth. Or go to bethematch.com. It’s a simple swab of the cheek,” she said.
“I would definitely do it again,” she said.
Rules about the donor getting infor- mation about the recipient differ from country to country, Romero said. She
can find out about the recipient from a Be The Match representative, but she said it probably will be January before she knows anything.
“A lot of emotion goes into this,” Romero said. “I think of her; I wonder how she’s doing. I wonder if my stem cells are healthy enough for her.”
Romero said she broke down one night talking to her husband, worried about the woman’s fate.
“He said, ‘What are you going to do if you find out she didn’t make it?’ I said, ‘Probably feel like I lost my grandmother.’ I hope that she made it. I don’t think God would have taken me that far and her not. Honestly, tell me it can’t be God? I live in Arkansas, and she lives in France. There’s got to be God in there somewhere.
“She was given a death sentence, and I have the opportunity to give her life. The opportunity to be cured is just unbelievable.”
Casual comfort
With a mix of soft color and bold print, this cozy lightweight sweater, featuring a hi-low hem and plaid scarf, was made for cool autumn days. Complete the look with Chinese Laundry’s versatile Leanna slouch bootie, adorned with multiple straps.
TO BUY: HipSway, Conway
Got game?
Show off your team spirit with this custom screen-printed PIKO shirt. Complete the look with a pair
of Corky’s Footwear boots and a Fossil cross-body purse.
TO BUY: Essential Frills, Maumelle
Cozy class
Cold weather cannot creep through this fuzzy zip-up Kuhl flight vest, which can be layered over this Kavu flannel shirt in bright, turquoise- based plaid. Keep your toes cozy with a pair of UGG Meadow short boots in a rich chestnut hue. TO BUY: Wilkinson’s Mall, Conway
Cool-weather style
Look your best this fall with these fabulous finds. With blanket scarves, booties and vests in season, these make cozy additions to your wardrobe. TO BUY: Lavish, Russellville
Bundle up against chilly autumn winds with this luxuriously soft White and Warren fringed cashmere poncho, which can be paired with Lucchese brown floral cowboy boots. Add some elegant flair to the outfit with this pearl necklace by G. Spinelli.
TO BUY: Grand on Oak, Conway
Seasonal chic
When the weather turns chilly, wrap yourself in this autumnal scarf from Justin & Taylor that features a detachable leather bracelet. Layer the scarf with a stylish necklace or a plaid poncho. Complete the look with a pair of Corky’s Cherokee Women’s Riding Boots. TOBUY: SouthernSavvy, Greenbrier