Lucy Sharp Lucy's Journey of Thanks

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. Carolyn here, Lucy's youngest (and let's be honest-all time favorite) child. I'm helping my mom keep her people updated on her health. If I can manage to teach her how to use the internet and she feels up to it, she will update this site. If not, you'll be getting some sketchy medical information and sarcastic coping reactions to the information herein. Thank you for visiting!


Here's the story: Lucy started feeling poorly back in the spring. She has had a persistent cough, really low energy, and weight loss. She consulted a pile of doctors, and most were unable to provide any clear answers. Late this fall, she finally  met with my brother Andy's oncologist after some changes in her blood tests indicated some clearer possibilities. After some more tests, Dr. Senecal diagnosed her with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or MDS. You can read all about it at www.mds-foundation.org/what-is-mds/. To give you the shorthand, it is a bone marrow disorder in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. With mild MDS, patients can receive treatment for maintenance and be okay for a long time. In Lucy's case, she has an aggressive form of the disease and treatment will slow the disease down, but it will eventually turn into acute myeloid leukemia, which is fatal. 


She began receiving a form of chemo the Monday after thanksgiving, and, so far, she is doing really well with the side effects of the medicine. We find out in three months if the chemotherapy is helping slow the disease. We all have our hopes up for the medicine to work its magic and for mom to be around for as long as she can stand us! Dad is taking fantastic care of her and she is staying positive and engaged with all the people who love her. I'm hoping this site is another place for those folks to do so. 


Please post comments to amuse our girl. Laughter has been her request for her time with us. Thanks again for your care for her and for us, it means the world to all of us.