This is Kate, Jenny's oldest daughter. I will be the primary author of this site to try and keep you all updated on Mom's progress. Mom's official diagnosis is multiple myeloma which is cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are the cells found in one's bone marrow that work to fight off germs. When these cells start to grow rapidly and out of control is when it becomes multiple myeloma.
Back in mid June, Mom began to have symptoms like fatigue, chills, and fever. The odd thing was that they'd be there one day and then go away. But they always came back. Thinking perhaps she had Lyme's disease, Mom went to the doctor. Her doc ran a bunch of tests and noticed some abnormalities in her labs. He consulted with a hematologist and then prepared Mom that they thought it was multiple myeloma. After more lab work from the hematologist and a bone marrow biopsy at Regions, we officially got the multiple myeloma diagnosis.
Multiple myeloma does not have a cure at this point, however there are ways to manage the cancer. The treatment Mom will undergo at this point is a regimen of meds and chemo (oral and injection--not radiation). She is a good candidate for a bone marrow transplant, which will most likely take place in early 2019. We are still very much in the learning stages about all this and really don't quite know what to expect. Depending on how all this goes and how Mom reacts will help dictate future treatments.
Overall, Mom is in great spirits and looking at all this in as positive a light as she can. She and Dad are working hard to try to maintain a balanced diet, and Mom is trying to give up her beloved Coke. :) Her main symptoms right now are similar to what initially sent her into the doc, mostly just fatigue. She is still working and hopes to continue to work full time up until the time of the transplant.
Her biggest needs right now are your thoughts, prayers, good vibes, well wishes, positivity--whatever you've got, send her way! As she begins treatment and we see how she reacts, we might have a need for more. I'll do my best to update you all as we go.
Thank you for all your love and support--it means a lot to all of us!
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