Heal Heal Revolution

This is a really good article about the history of blood typing and some of the odd things that have happened to it over the years. Is it odd that I'm rather fascinated by the concept of blood types but can't remember what mine is? Actually, I think that's less "odd" than just "irresponsible." Okay, it's odd too.

Anyway, yes, I'm strangely fascinated by blood types. I think it's really cool that in some cases you can donate to everyone, but can only take blood from your own kind (O-), but if you're AB+, you can take blood from anyone . . . but only donate to other AB+ people. It creates its own drama, doesn't it? The generous O- people who must give to everyone, but so little can be given back.  The lucky, gifted AB+ who give so little to everyone else. I'm sure this doesn't work out to be the personality type, but I can see why people view it that way.

What is filling me with weird joy about the article though, is that recently, a girl's body did something that broke all the rules about blood types.  Blood typing is in our DNA. Like having blue eyes or black hair, it's something we're coded to have and we're stuck with it.

However, this girl, who had to have a liver transplant, managed to change all of this.  Her body was having a difficult time accepting the new organ.  They feared she would reject it and, at best, she was facing a lifetime of medications that would lessen the chances of rejection.  The problem is, how these meds work is by suppressing the immune system . . . meaning you're more vulnerable to any other type of illness.

This girl's body has changed all of that for her. Well, actually, the new liver did. It seems that stem cells from the liver got into her blood marrow and rewrote her blood type so that her body could accept the liver without a problem. Now, she has health and no anti-rejection meds. Her body won't reject the liver because it altered the system in order to accept it.

I'm overjoyed for this girl, and very interested in the implications of this. For instance, instead of suppressing the immune system (which makes the body weaker), is there a way we can encourage the system to actively seek ways to adapt to the new organ? This would be a strengthening of the system and a path towards independence.

I've always had a fundamental issue with medical treatments that weaken the body or push it into a deeper state of crisis than it already is. I get that in some cases we have no choice.  However, if anything, this case is proving their might be choices out there. People should play to their strengths, and as a species, we should collectively play to our strengths.

As far as I am concerned, the greatest strength that humans have is our ability to adapt to circumstances and solve the problems and puzzles to make the situation work for us. To me, this girl's altered state is proof of how amazing this strength is.