Lou Cerritelli

Last year at the beginning of June, we got in our Rv for a safe trip during covid times. Traveling from Florida to Kansas, then to Colorado. The wind was so bad on the way to Colorado, Lou was white knocked to keep the RV on the road. While in Colorado Lou experience a shortness of breath, (blaming it on the altitude). Next we headed to Pa. On June 29th,Lou woke up with his leg swollen.  We went to urgent care, had a scan on his leg and found blood clots. We went directly to the hospital ER. While sitting in the ER, they ran multiple tests. Eventually they asked Lou if he was being treated for cancer, because his blood counts were so off. It was the only thing that could physically explain the blood counts. After 4 days in the hospital and 6 weeks of an oncologist trying to figure out what was going on, they suggested a bone marrow biopsy. At this point we chose to return to Florida. Our family Dr saw Lou the day we got home. 2 days later he had an appt with an oncologist that did a bone marrow biopsy. When the results came back, all levels were bad, and we were told the diagnosis of Myelodyplastic syndrom ( MDS) with a very high risk level ( due to 13 of 20 chromosomes, being found abnormal)Chemo treatments started Sept 28, for 5 days. Each month for 7 months Lou underwent chemo treatments.
    January we changed insurance companies, and got to proceed with treatment (over and above chemo), 
They started the process to have a bone marrow ( stem cell) transplant. After many informational meetings and testing,  a donor was found. The process has started to save Lou.