An Update On Brenda
Some of you have been asking about Brenda -
In early December the doctors in Indiana gave up on her...their was nothing else they could do...they gave her approximately 6 months to live. We just couldn't accept that and Brenda wanted to fight on. Since a stem cell transplant is Brenda's only chance for a cure, I got busy on the Internet searching for clinical trials that included a transplant.
We found one in Houston, Texas at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. We have been here since the middle of December. The first thing Brenda's doctor wanted to do was see if he could get her into remission before the transplant. He said it would significantly improve her chances for a successful transplant. Within 30 days they had Brenda's blasts down to 3% (anything under 5% is considered remission.)
So we have been very busy getting ready for the transplant: tests, classes, meetings, and on and on. The care at M.D. Anderson is superb. It's easy to understand why people from around the world come here for treatment.
The stem cell transplant is a definite "go" this time.
Brenda will be admitted on the 17th for a kick-ass dose of chemo. The actual transplant happens on the 24th, and Brenda will be in the hospital for approximately 30 days or until her new stem cells are producing red & white blood cells and platelets. Interestingly, Brenda's blood type which is O positive will become A negative. Our donor is a 48 yr. old male from out of the country. God Bless Him!
We will remain in Houston for another 45 to 60 days as an out patient. Brenda will be closely monitored for Graft Versus Host Disease (rejection - will the new blood system attack Brenda's organs etc.) If everything goes well, we'll head home in late June. It will take up to 2 years before Brenda's immune system is back to normal. If we get to 5 years, the chances of a relapse become pretty small.
With an 18 month old grand daughter in California & an 8 month old grand daughter in Indiana, we'll take whatever time the good ole Lord will give us.