Ray's journey began 5 days after our first born's high school graduation.  He went to the Emergency Room thinking his shortness of breath and severe bruising was a heart issue of some sort.  Not 1hr into our visit and after lab draws we were told he would be admitted, require a unit of blood and platelets and Hemoc would follow him in the morning!! We said "WHAT??" In my 24yrs with my husband has never been admitted into the hospital nor taken any medication other then an occasional antibiotic and multi vitamin.  We told our boys that Ray has a blood disorder and more tests would give us answers. Day 2 in the hospital they performed a bone marrow biopsy to rule out acute leukemia.  Day 3 a CT was performed looking at lymphoma. His spleen was big and tender. Day 4 we were cleared from Acute Leukemia and sent home with follow up blood work for his severe neutropenia, red blood cell count and platelets.  We were on the path of a diagnosis of myloperliforative neoplasm (big word for type of blood cancer).  Friday of week 2 we were told Ray was looking at battling non-hodgkins large B cell Lymphoma. He needed more blood so we had to go to the ED again for an infusion.  Week 3 we finally saw our Hemotolgy Oncologist who was sure the bone marrow showed the Lymphoma. We discussed and prepared to tell our boys the plan for the following week.  We were going to get a call tues or wed to be admitted inpatient and start a two day chemo BR regimen that would occur each month for 6 months.  Not 24hrs later we received a phone call telling us a different diagnosis!! What?? Ray had to go back in for a BRAF blood test to confirm what they were thinking.  Week 4 ended and we still were not sure what type of cancer we were dealing with.  Ray was tired all the time and received blood and/or platelets every week.  The BRAF test came back on a tues confirming HAIRY CELL LEUKEMIA (This is a type of Lymphoma) cancer is like a tree and one branch leads to another type of cancer. Who would have known!! So we finally had our answers and were told it's a favorable type. Thanks to my long time BFF who is also a cancer dr. And her free consultations (I love you my friend and thank you for being there for us Kim!!)
Ray started Chemo the next day for 5 days in a row. We were at the cancer center daily or every other day for 3 weeks to monitor his severely low white and red blood cells and platelets. He was given blood, platelets and/or fluids pretty much daily as an out patient procedure.  He was a trooper! Fast forward 3 weeks after chemo he had platelets from 10 to now 110...his RBCs were 6.7 and now 10.5, and WBCs from 0.1 to 1.1!! Boy have we waited for some increased numbers!! He is in remission ~ those hairy suckers are gone.....he will start another medication rituximab Aug 21 (1 × weekly for 4 weeks) then he will continue to be monitored and pray those suckers dont EVER come back :).....we got lucky and he was a brave guy for sure.  It's been a long 3 months but he is doing well....we had our first date last Saturday and celebrated kicking CANCER in the butt! Thank you God for taking care of the love of my life and giving my boys the strength to watch their father go through his cancer journey and come out stronger then ever. ❤