First post:
Apr 23, 2019 Latest post:
Aug 16, 2019
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.
Welcome to my CaringBridge page! I will try to keep it updating on where we are with treatments, etc.
But first a little background... I was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in April, 2017. After 6 rounds of chemo, my cancer was in remission!
Fast forward to February, 2019. A routine CT Scan identified enlarged lymph nodes in the same area as my original site. Biopsy and PET scan confirmed the cancer had returned. At that point we were referred to Dr. Essell at OHC at The Jewish Hospital. Dr. Essell outlined an aggressive treatment plan where the goal is to cure the lymphoma.
The plan includes: - 2 rounds of 3 day inpatient chemo to put the cancer in remission. Completed in March. - Once in remission, we started the process for a stem cell transplant. * CT Scan and followup PET scan confirmed remission - early April. * Bone Marrow biopsy (in the office -- no fun!) * A number of cardiac and pulmonary testing to see if I was a candidate for stem cell transplant. * Approved for transplant - April 16! * Stem harvesting is scheduled for April 26 - they will remove stem cells, freeze them until transplant day.
Then the fun really begins! * May 1 I will be admitted to the hospital for a 7 night stay with deluxe accommodations. During my stay I will get 6 rounds of chemo to wipe out my immune system. On day 7 they will put my new little stem cells back and make them go to work rebuilding new, non-cancerous blood cells! * Once discharged from the hospital, I will need 24 hour care due to my compromised immune system and just basically being wiped out by the chemo. We will be making daily visits to the hospital for blood checks for the next 14 days. At any sign of fever or infection, I will be back in the hospital for the remainder of that time.
We have received an outpouring of prayers, love and support from our friends and families including our work families and our soccer family. We are so appreciative of the cards, social media messages, meals, gifts, etc. We are SO BLESSED to have have each and everyone of you in our lives.
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