DEB NIEMELA

Here's a little background information on my illness. I was diagnosed
with Myelodysplasia in June of this year. This is a bone marrow disorder
in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells.
In my case it is a shortage of red blood cells. My Spokane Oncologist
recommended that I go to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) to discuss
the possibility of a stem cell transplant. My consultation appointment
was on July 12th. My husband Ken and I met with Dr. Oliver Press. He
recommended that I undergo an Allogeneic stem cell transplant (using a
donor's stem cells). The transplant was scheduled for sometime in
October. The process of finding a match could take up to 3 months. On
July 20th I received a call from Dr. Press, he told me that a match had
been found. The donor will be my brother Brian. It turns out they still
had blood typing records from 2002 when I had a false cancer diagnosis,
they had collected blood samples from several of my siblings before the
mistake was discovered. The transplant start date was moved up to August
10th. We will be leaving home on August 9th to travel to Seattle where
we will move into our apartment at the Transplant House. This will be
our home away from home for 4 months.