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Welcome to Alex's page. We have created it to keep people up to date on Alex's post-bone marrow transplant progress.
I was diagnosed with AML type 4 on my birthday, January 28, 2003. That afternoon my dad took me to our local clinic for a purple and black bump on my arm. The doctor (Dr. Hill) ordered a blood draw. We went home, waiting to hear the results.
I had my party, then went to bed. At about 11:30PM We got a call from the doc saying there were bad cells in my blood. I was admitted to Carle Hospital in Champaign, IL. That's where they found out that I had leukemia, but they weren't sure yet what exact type.
They admitted me to St. Louis Children's Hospital. I didn't know what to expect at the time. I rode in an ambulance to St. Louis. I was pretty thrilled then to see the arch, but now when we pass it I barely notice it.
When I was first in my room, in the middle there was a curtain drawn and I had a roommate. The room was so small! I thought, is this like a waiting room or somethin'? But no, I was in room 40A on the cancer center on floor nine west.
The day after that I got my catheter/central line put in my chest. The nurses said it wouldn't hurt and that I'd wake up in recovery, but they were wrong both times. It was the most painful thing of my experience and I woke up in my room almost 10 hours later.
The first round of chemo was brutal. One morning I just woke up crying.
In about a week the people in B went home and we got to move there. (The bigger side!) Icouldn't leave the room because my counts were a big goose egg.
After about a month in the hospital, we got to go home. (Thank God!) Just for about a week.
Later I went back for my second round of chemo. That was probably the best part of the experience. I felt great I walked all around the hospital. (IV pole and all). I got to try on the hospital mascot's head and shoes.
Later we found out that my sister Erin was a 6 out of 6 match. That's pretty rare.
After my second round of chemo we went home for a long time.
On April 11th, 2003 we went back to Children's to start chemo and radiation. The transplant would be on April 15th. I had chemo and felt terribe. When I had radiation that was hell. I was in so much agony. I lost my first favorite hat that day.
That same day my sister Erin got a catheter put in her groin. That would take the cells. Thanks, Erin.
The transplant went well. I felt bad during it but in a good way.
I lived in Ronald Mcdonald Apartments for 75 days. The night before I went home, We had a party with the kids who also lived in the apartments.
Right now I'm home and doing well. Please sign my guestbook and let me know you visited my site.
Alex Roux
Please visit these other pages:
Katia’s page
Sammi’s page
Ryan’s page
Jeremy’s page
Journal
Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:01 AM CST Hi, I'm doing fine. My new e-mail address is kangaroux5@yahoo.com I just wanted to let you know.
Happy Holidays!
Alex
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