Mary Jayne Miller Mary’s Cancer Journey

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.

Mary started her journey on July 1st when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. We set up this CareBridge account to keep the many families and friends updated as to how Mary is doing. Here is a brief summary of what’s been going on and what is happening now.  

Mary had been losing weight for almost a year attributing it to just no appetite or trying to eat less. After having a fall at work back in June, she saw her Doctor and had some test and lab work done. He noticed some values that should not be there and told her he suspected multiple myeloma. As a result she was referred to a hematologist\oncologist who did further testing and confirmed her diagnosis. Since then she has been on chemo injections twice a week along with some other oral medication. She has been hospitalized twice since then, once for dehydration and anemia and the last time was because she went into congestive heart failure which is an side effect of her chemo drug. She is home now and is actually staying with her sister, Maggie who is working diligently to make sure she is eating what she needs to eat and she is drinking fluids like she needs to drink. They  have added physical therapy to help strengthen her and help her with her balance. Her main side effect right now is fatigue and loss of appetite. She is working hard to eat what she needs to eat and choosing to get up and move around rather than lying around all day. She tires very easily and the day after her chemo is always an especially hard day for her.  Prayer needs is that the chemo will continue to do what it needs to do, and that Mary will be able to eat and regain some strength. 

She  went to UAB midSeptember to be evaluated for stem cell transplant. We had a many questions and they were very helpful and patient.  She is currently on her sixth round of chemo. Each round is 21 days. When she completes this round they will draw lab and determine whether or not she is ready to go to UAB for her stem cell transplant. If the lab is not where it needs to be then UAB may recommend another two rounds of chemo. Our hope is that this sixth round will be her last round and she will be ready for a transplant. We ask that you would pray with us about this.  We  know our Lord is sovereign and his plan is always good and perfect. We are resting in him realizing that it is his timetable that we want and it is his glory that we desire above all else. We so appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement to Mary and for her family.