Joe Rhodarmer

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.


#PrepareToLive

In early June, Joe had blood work for a yearly physical.  His hemoglobin was so low he was notified to go to the emergency room.  After a few visits and many tests, Joe's doctor in Columbia gave us the option to be referred to MUSC or Duke.  We decided Duke was the best location for Joe.  Joe was given a diagnosis of Myelofibrosis at his first visit at Duke and that a bone marrow transplant was the cure.  Joe's siblings weren't a match so the search moved to the nation donor database.  According to Dr. Sung at Duke, they found 'the perfect' match for Joe.  The only better match would be an identical twin.  Joe's  donor is a 26 yr old male.  Joe says his donor is a 26 yr old 'Navy Seal'.  That's his story and he's sticking to it!!  We went to Duke on Sep. 18th for a full day of tests, attended a caregiver class and a visit with Dr. Sung.  Everything is in place for the bone marrow transplant next month.   Joe continues to get weekly blood and platelet transfusions until we go to Duke.


Joe will be in the hospital for 30 days and then be released to an apartment close to Duke for two months.  We go to Duke Oct. 9th to get this fight started!  We were blessed with a day off on the 10th, which just happens to be our anniversary!  Joe will be admitted to the hospital on the 11th and chemo will begin.  The bone marrow transplant will take place on the 18th.


Please keep Joe and all of his medical team in your prayers!!