Jim & Cheri’s Story

Site created on May 1, 2023

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.

Last fall after a bone marrow biopsy Jim was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) subtype Refractory Anemia-EB1 high risk for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He started treatment right away. Cheri was busy bringing him to his treatments and weekly blood transfusion appointments. As of the end of April 2023 he has now completed 4 rounds of treatments. Throughout this time he's had complications with bleeding, weakness and fatigue. And through it all he's been a trouper and loving all the attention from his girls and grandkids!

Meanwhile Cheri had scraped her leg in February and came down with a case of cellulitis. As she was being treated, she spiked a fever that wouldn’t go away and was very, very weak. After a couple of tests (bone marrow biopsy, and numerous blood tests) to get a more specific diagnosis she was taken to Mayo Clinic where they diagnosed her with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) with TP53 gene mutation. That particular gene mutation is known to be resistant to chemo. She recently completed her first round of Chemo like a champ! She gets blood transfusions as needed. For now she's enjoying even more attention than Jim and keeping up with her quilts.

Newest Update

April 15, 2024

Journal entry by Debby Heymans Sharon Harten —

Cheri was discharged from the hospital last week and is steadily recuperating, albeit at a slow pace. She has attended several follow-up appointments with doctors to monitor her recovery progress. 
Her phone has been replaced and is now operational, eagerly awaiting calls from friends and loved ones, which she greatly appreciates.
Read More of the journal titled "April 15, 2024"
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