Jennie Gappa

4/29/17: Jennie began having worrisome symptoms of severe tingling and itching all over her arms and legs. This progressed to accompanying warmth sensations.
5/1/17: Began doctoring locally over the next couple weeks. Blood tests to rule out autoimmune conditions, thyroid conditions, Lyme's Disease, and other obvious culprits.
5/24/17: MRI of head and neck done to rule out MS. MRI showed brain tumor at the back of the head (most likely meningioma), but more concerning was the top of a large tumor visualized at the base of the neck scan.
5/25/17: CT scan of the chest revealed a very large (greater than the size of a softball) tumor surrounding the greater vessels leading into the heart, as well as the trachea
5/26/17: Began doctoring in Rochester with hematologist Dr. Ansell. Suspected Hodgkin Lymphoma due to the classic sign of itching. 
5/30/17: PET scan revealed large mediastinal tumor, as well as several smaller tumors surrounding it in the chest cavity.  No metastases to the rest of the body.
5/30/17: Bone marrow biopsy. 48 hours later revealed no involvement of bone marrow with lymphoma. 
5/31/17: CT guided needle biopsy of tumor.  48 hours later revealed diagnosis of Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma
5/31/17: Baseline echo showed no compromise of heart function. 
6/1/17: Baseline pulmonary function tests showed no compromise of lung function.
6/2/17: Neurology consult regarding brain tumor.  Follow up MRI. Discussion of tumor removal following chemo and radiation.
6/2/17: Fertility consult. Discussed preservation of eggs for infertility concerns following chemo. Decided against this for financial reasons.
6/2/17: Received concrete DIAGNOSIS, based on all above tests and blood work, of Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 
6/4/17: Hair chop--hair sent off to be made into a personalized wig! 
6/7/17: Chemo round 1. ("ABVD") Side note, anyone who follows Dad's story... We later found out we both started chemo on June 7, exactly 7 years apart. 
6/22/17: Chemo round 2.
6/25/17: Hair buzz. Hair falling out EVERYWHERE. 
7/6/17: Chemo round 3. 
7/20/17: Chemo round 4. 
8/3/17: PET scan & Chemo round 5. 
8/17/17: Chemo round 6.
8/31/17: Chemo round 7. 
9/13/17: Chemo round 8.
10/9 - 10/27/17: Daily proton beam radiation.
11/14/17: Meningioma removal surgery.
12/12/17: PET scan & REMISSION!