Okay since you all asked...update/madubois63

[madubois63]

It's been a while since I updated because there really wasn't anything to say. It has been down time - recouping and enjoying LIFE - except for all the scans I did last week. The mammo and the bone scan were good. I have not seen the reports for the CAT and PET yet, but have a pretty good feeling about them. My BC onc faxed them to my leukemia onc. If anything was wrong, I would have heard about it by now. I will have copies in my hand Monday morning. I may be flying out to Buffalo sometime next week for a consult at the transplant hospital. As soon as I get an appointment, I have to call Angel Flight America. Corporate Angle Network could not help me (too quick and no flight going to Buffalo). Angel Flight America hooks up cancer patients with private plane owners that donate their time, gas and plane. They will fly me there and back - same day. It will be a small 4 -6 passenger plane. I'm packing my parachute as we speak, even though they assured me that pilot will land the plane for me. As soon as I get back from Buffalo, the leukemia doctor wants me back in the hospital for my next round of chemo. This time it will only be five days of continuous chemo (last time was seven), but it could take 3 to 5 weeks for my counts to come back up again. I am determined to be out of the hospital by my birthday at the end of August. My onc said, "No way. Don't count on it." Of course, I asked him if he wanted to make a bet. I got a copy of the letter from the Donor Registry. I was told I had around 200 potential bone marrow donors. Actually, I have 299 that are 6 out of 6 (marker) matches and over 4,000 5 out of 6 matches. There is also 4 units of core blood that is a perfect match. They like to use that for kids because it is only a small amount of blood, and I would need two units. That is a total backup, but I doubt very highly that I will need to look that far. I am feeling great...better than I have in a long, long time. I cook, clean, shop and have a concert to take my daughter to before I go back in the hospital. This one is close to home for a change...I usually end up in another state in an ice storm or a heat wave. It keeps me going! Love you all and I keep praying for a cure for all of us!!! Thanks for being there for me through all this.... Maryann