Glenn Waterfield

On November 18th 2016 Glenn was admitted to unity Point Methodist Hospital after finding out his blood counts were severely low. No wonder he had been so tired lately. On November 19 th 2016 Glenn bravely fought through his first bone marrow biopsy.  Glenn has been diagnosed with Mylelodysplastic Syndrome(MDS).  MDS is similar to leukemia. It is a blood disorder, if left untreated will turn into leukemia.  Unfortuneately, it is harder to treat and has a lower chance of remission than leukemia. Glenn had a power port surgically placed in his right chest to assist with chemotherapy and blood transfusions prior to discharge from the hospital on November 21st 2016.  

On December 8th 2016  Glenn met Dr. Mehta at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago IL. Dr. Mehta has changed Glenn's diagnosis from MDS to Acute Myleloid Leukemia (AML).  Glenn was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Peoria IL on December 12th 2016.  He has started induction chemotherapy.  He is expected to be in the hosptial for approximately 30 days or 4 weeks. Followin inductiong chemotherapy he will be discharged to home and expect to go back for more chemotherapy and stay in the hospital for a week at a time about every few weeks.  In the mean time we are waiting to find a bone marrow match for a bone marrow transplant. We are expected to go to Northwestern University for the bone marrow transplant sometime in the next 4 months. The transplant will take 4 weeks at Northwestern. 

Today is his 6th day out of 7of Vidaza.  Vidaza is a chemotherapy drug given by subcutaneous injection into his stomach. After his last dose of Vidaza tomorrow he will take 3 weeks off from chemotherapy for recovery time. His blood counts have continued to drop.  On Friday November 25th 2016 he recieved his first blood transfusion, 1 unit. Blood work on Monday November 28th revieled his blood count was still too low and needed another blood transfusion. Yesterday, Tuesday November 29th 2016 Glenn had his second blood transfusion, 2 units.  Today he is feeling stronger.  He is able to drive himself to chemotherapy today for the first time and feels well enough to go to work for a little while.


 After meeting with his oncologist yesterday we are to expect frequent blood transfusions, possible every week. We had good news yesterday that the genetic chromosome testing from the bone marrow biopsy came back all negative or normal. No abnormality. We thought that was good news. But, the oncologist thought it was "puzzling".  We have been told that the Vidaza only has a 33 % chance of achieving remission.  Therefore, the Vidaza is only to buy us time till he can start the bone marrow transplant process. 33 % of bone marrow transplant survivors go into complete remission. This is our only chance of a cure.  33% of bone marrow trasplant patients die from a complication from the transplant (infection or bleeding).  33% of bone marrow transplant survivors will relapse with MDS.  


December 8th we will be traveling up to Chicago to Northwestern University Hospital to initiate the bone marrow trasplant process.  Once we find a bone marrow match, Glenn will spend 4 weeks in the hospital at Northwestern.  Followed by a 2 month outpatient stay in Chicago, before he is allowed to return home. 


Please pray for Glenn.  Please pray for a bone marrow match.  Please pray for a uncomplicated bone marrow transplant. And finally, please pray for REMISSION!