Diane’s Story

Site created on November 6, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. 


Recently Diane was diagnosed with a condition known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome or 'MDS' .  MDS is a rare disorder in which your body can no longer create enough healthy, normal blood cells in the bone marrow.  If left untreated MDS  can develop into Leukemia, a cancer of the blood.  Occasionally  there are links to known outside risk factors, but in Diane's case the cause is unknown.  According to her physicians nothing could have prevented this condition.   Fortunately with today's technology we have hope!  There are a few different options for a patient with MDS including chemotherapy, blood transfusions and stem cell transplant.  Diane's doctors decided that chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant would be the best course of action.

We have a diagnosis, so what now?

As soon as the doctors were able to finally diagnose Diane and get her on a path to recovery they reached out to her brother Stanley and her sister Teria to see if either one of them were willing to be possible candidates for a stem cell transplant.  Both siblings were eager to help but only one was a match....Teria!!  This means that instead of having an anonymous Donor, Diane's very own sister is going to save her life.  Beginning early in December 2018 the two of them began rigorous preparation for the transplant.  This preparation included physicals, blood work,  bone marrow biopsies, food preparation classes and LOTS of appointments.  

All of this occurred very suddenly and getting appointments at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is not easy.  Both Diane and Teria will basically be on call for the next 4 months squeezing in to any available appointment at the SCCA.  As information becomes available regarding Diane and Teria I will be sure to update everyone here so be sure to check back soon.


Thank you so much for your concern for Diane and please keep Diane and Teria in your thoughts and prayers.


If you would like to send Diane & Teria anything, there address is:


Pete Gross House
525 Minor Ave. N Unit #613
Seattle, WA 98109

**Please do not send any flowers as they are not allowed in the Pete Gross House**

Newest Update

Journal entry by Amber Spencer

Shortly after the last journal update I got a text from Teria and GVHD was confirmed by an endoscopy/biopsy.  Diane started Prednisone a few days ago as that is protocol when GVHD is a possibility.  Now that it is confirmed she will be getting high doses which can lead to Prednisone induced diabetes.  She will need to monitor her glucose levels four times a day and will get insulin injections if her blood sugar gets too high.  Dear sweet Teria has a training manual and will be attending a class tomorrow on how to be a caregiver not only to a transplant recipient, but a diabetic one at that!  Now that they have everything somewhat under control they plan on discharging Diane from the hospital tomorrow January 18th.  Her nausea is much better but will probably continue on and off while the GVHD works its way out of her system.  Nurse Teria feels that this time going home to the Pete Gross House will be much more successful. We are so thankful to finally have some answers and are officially back on the road of recovery!  
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