First post:
Oct 25, 2017 Latest post:
Dec 22, 2017
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
My name is Don and I am Denise's cousin. Denise has asked me to journal on this website to help keep all those who are dear to her updated about her surgery and recovery. I am quite certain that the best gift you can give Denise at this time is the gift of prayer. After being diagnosed with kidney failure earlier this year, testing resulted in diagnoses of amyloidosis, and then, ultimately, multiple myeloma. The treatment plan for the kidney disease was a form of chemotherapy but after the multiple myeloma diagnosis the chemo formula had to be "tweaked" to be effective in treating both diseases. Dee has undergone chemotherapy like a trooper, even while doing her best to deal with several unpleasant side-effects.
After the above summary, I am beginning this journal with the week of 10/9, where Denise underwent more appointments than you can imagine one person could be scheduled, which she diligently handled with her usual grace and positive attitude. The procedures during that week were to ready Dee for her stem cell transplant. They were to harvest them daily for four mornings which were followed by injections in the evenings. After the second day, it was deemed that they had harvested enough stem cells, and may even have enough to freeze should the need arise in the future. Various other appointments were to help ready her for the stem cell transplant surgery. After her anticipated three week hospital stay, Denise will be staying with our cousin Nancy. They both had to meet with the doctor and then attend a special class to go over recovery requirements. Denise and our entire family are grateful to Nancy for her sacrifice and generosity.
As of today, the stem cell transplant is scheduled for Wednesday, 10/25/17. She has a Roswell visit today to insert her port and will be admitted Tuesday 10/24. I'll sign off for now and hope to keep you all updated as best I can. We are lifting all of you who are praying for Denise so that you, too, will be blessed for your thoughtfulness.
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