madubois63 update

[madubois63]

Okay, okay...I am finally getting around to updating. It has been a mental thing for me. I just couldn't find the mental energy to do this - coping thing I guess. I have been feeling pretty good lately and just don't want to be preparing to be feeling like crap again. Last week, I got a call from the transplant hospital. They have identified MY donor. She is 25 and lives outside of the US (they won't tell me where). She is a 10 out of 10 match - genetically speaking, she is me but younger. They offered her 3 appointments to start the process. The first date has passed, so I will not be going next week. The next appointment for her would put me traveling on the 16th and then the last date would put me at the 23th. It all depends on her. Right now, I feel like I am in the last weeks of pregnancy. Everyone keeps asking me, "When." I get, "Oh, your still here?? I thought you'd be in the hospital by now." Ugh! While she gets shots to boost her marrow and then donates blood 3 times, I will be getting dental clearance (pulling teeth may be necessary - I will not be able to get dental work for the next year, and there is no time for root canals because of my immune system). Then we'll having a family meeting where they teach my mom and sister how to care for my catheter and keep my (30) pills in order and also last minute labs for chemo dosages. Her blood will be frozen and then flown to NY. It then gets treated and separated. I will then be admitted and 5 days of chemo will be administered to completely kill my bone marrow/immune system. I get one day off, then the transplant - which is no more than a transfusion. The marrow amazingly knows where to go. The cells just swim to where they need to be (smarter than most men - I said MOST). The chemo is a rough combo - worst than any BC chemo I've ever had. The hard part of this is getting through is the side effects of chemo, transfusions until my counts recuperate and being isolated and so far from home. I will be there for many weeks but I am determined to be home for Christmas! I will miss Halloween (my second favorite holiday - my house looks like the great pumpkin spit up) and Thanksgiving (mom's stuffing), but I'll do my best to remember what I am gaining! The docs will be watching me very carefully for what is called Graft vs Host Disease. Basically, it is a rejection of the bone marrow and it usually shows itself in the first 100 days after the transplant. There are more medications to combat this problem if it should occur, and the better the match the less likely it is to occur. I've met someone that is now going through a mild case, and it ain't so pretty. It has effected her skin. I know what to expect, but I am praying (real hard) that it doesn't happen! I've had tons of tests again for preadmission. The breast cancer is still in remission, as is the leukemia (yeah). So if I am in remission, why do the transplant you ask?? If I don't have the transplant it could take weeks, it could take months, but in time the leukemia WILL come back. Genetically/medically speaking, my prognosis sucks! The chemo goes for keeping things stable and in line, the transplant goes for a cure. I want a cure!! So that's it for now. I promise I will post before I leave. I will have internet access and hope to be up to posting. ..Thank you all for your friendship, prayers and well wishes!! I love you all...