MY STORY
I began having severe back and leg pain in August of 2003. During my first trip to the ER, the doctor gave me pain meds and scheduled an MRI. The results of the MRI showed nothing unusual. After my third trip to the ER with the pain, the doctor ordered another MRI plus a CAT Scan, which both came back normal. I began physical therapy for a couple of months. The therapist told me there was nothing she could do for me because my problem was not my back. After my fifth trip to the ER, the doctor ordered a CBC which came back normal, except for my Neutrophil count. I was admitted to the hospital for 6 days where several tests were ran, all of which came back normal. During my hospital stay, I began to lose weight and became very fatigued. I was released from the hospital on a Monday, with no diagnosis, but still in pain. On Wednesday I had another CBC and a checkup with my primary physician. My blood counts had not changed and he wanted to order a bone marrow biopsy. I was terrified....not really at what the outcome could be, but at the procedure itself! Being the stubborn person that I am, I convinced my doctor to give it a week to make sure it wasn't a viral infection. The following day I began having severe back pains and was having trouble breathing. Mom and Dad took me to the ER where they took another CBC....this time it was Leukemia for sure!
I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on November 1, 2003. I began my 24 month protocol on November 4th! After one month of chemo, I was in complete cytogenetic remission!!! I began going to M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas to be seen my the #1 doctor for Leukemia in the world in January of 2004! We fly to Houston about once every 6 months for a bone marrow and check-up! Luckily, I am able to receive my chemo in Lafayette! I began my maintenence phase July 2004. Keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well, I will be "cured" from this nasty disease on November 1, 2005!!!! That means no more chemo or STEROIDS!!!!!!!
Well, life isn't always what is seems or what the docs say! We found out on December 19, 2005 that I will continue on chemo through the end of June 2006! I was married on July 8, 2006 and we had a beautiful baby boy on April 27, 2007!

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PLEASE PRAY FOR BABY NOELLE!
www.caringbridge.org/wi/noelle










Our Special Guest of Honor at our Wedding!





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Journal Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:01 PM CDT Holy Cow! We now have a 2 year old! How time flies! Payne is getting so big. He continues to do amazing! He had his 2 year development check yesterday. The doctor's words were music to a mother/teacher's ears "Payne is by far the most verbal and intelligent 2 year old I have seen!" Yeah!!!! Look's like it is a good think he is smart since she also said that he will probably only be about 5'9" tall....sorry Daddy! He can speak in complete sentences and carry on a conversation, knows all of his colors, shapes, counts to 13, and knows about 10 letters and sounds! His memory is amazing and there is no promising him anything without following through! We are working on potty training and he is doing well for being a 2 year old boy. I'm hoping to really get going on that this summer while I'm on break! :) Unfortunately in the same appointment, Dr. Miller said that his lungs were a complete mess! She added another daily allergy/asthma medication to his twice a day inhalher. She also added a Zpack and steroids....lovely, lovely steroids! A 2 year old on steroids is not fun, especially a verbal one! The lung issue really concerns me with all of this Swine Flu business! We are so very lucky to have such a great little boy! We can't wait to add more to our family, but think we will wait a little longer! :) Hope you are all doing well! I'll try my very best to keep this updated more frequently! Love always, Kara, Travis and Payne Read Journal History Sign and View Guestbook View Photos Links:
	E-mail Author: dimmich@purdue.edu
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