Wayne Stutzman

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Since the treatment plan continues to change and there is a lot of information to share, please check this site for updates.   As many of you know, my dad was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in 2016.   The disease is highly variable and has several classifications.  My father's type is Refractory Cytopenia with Multilineage Dysplasia (RCMD).    MDS can  transform into acute myeloid leukemia, which is resistant to treatment, but fortunately, his latest bone marrow biopsy does not show evidence of AML.    At first, the disease was fairly benign and he was able to continue with his daily activities,  including work.  Unfortunately, things have progressed and he is experiencing symptoms that have really interfered with his daily life.  He is now receiving blood transfusions as needed and experiencing overwhelming fatigue, largely due to the severity of his anemia.  RCMD impacts all three cells, red, white and platelets so his counts are monitored regularly.   At this time, we are uncertain about whether he will be a candidate for a bone marrow/stem cell transplant, in large part due to his weakened state.  While we were initially hopeful that this curative approach was the best path and the one we were headed down, things have changed in the last month.  He will undergo additional testing over the next week and then start a low dose infusion chemotherapy regimen.  We hope this will attack the abnormal cells and allow some of the good  blood cells to make their way where they need to go.  It will take a few cycles of chemo to know if the treatment is actually working, but we continue to keep a positive outlook and are hopeful that he will get some relief.    We are also hopeful that this regimen will, at some point, shrink his very enlarged spleen and perhaps allow him the option of deciding on the transplant.   We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement!