I've been very blessed with 2 1/2 year survival after my stem cell transplant. They said they considered a transplant a cure after 3 years, but didn't quite make that. I was finally beginning to accept that this all might be behind me. The journey will continue and I'm thankful for that.
My previous diagnosis was MDS ( pre- leukemua) but it has come back as AML ( leukemia). In all honesty, I was so high risk for the MDS, the Dr. said it was a play on words between my MDS and Leukemua with my initial diagnosis.
Brian's match was a great one and kept me in remission for the long while. I developed severe graft vs host early on and the next 2 years had complications related to that. I was on immunosuppressants this entire time and it's believed that was a contributing factor to the relapse. The med was needed, but as it suppresses the graft vs host , it can also suppress the bodies ability to fight the disease.
As most of you know, it's been a long 8 years. I can't begin to thank you all enough for your never ending love, prayers and support.
It has taken a toll on my family and their support and your friendship has been a key factor in my mental health. Thank you all so much!
In looking back , I didn't do a good job in keeping up this site. I noticed I had multiple unfinished " drafts" never posted. I will try to do better, but I will say that emotionally and physically, it sometimes is too much except to take baby steps. One day at a time is how I approach life after the MDS diagnosis. It's all I got.
This has been a big emotional blow, but I'm putting my positive thoughts back in motion, and as always, my FAITH in GOD that he will see me through. Good or bad he sees us through it all. We just have to fall into his arms and KNOW that his will be done. As someone once said to me, " God never said it would be easy , he said it would be worth it".
2014 After 4 years of treatment for ovarian cancer, I was diagnosed with MDS ( myoplastic dysplasia ) or pre- leukemia. This high risk MDS is believed to be caused by Doxil, a chemo that was used for 5 months during my treatment for ovarian cancer. Summer of 2013, I was told that I had to have a stem cell transplant and it needed to be immediate. Thankfully, my next bone marrow test showed I wasn't advancing to leukemia as quickly as my labwork suggested. I call it my "gift of time". This last year allowed me to process the information and spend some quality time with family. It also allowed treatment to repair most of my abnormal chromosomes. I feel my life was as close to "normal" as it had been in 5 years. After my diagnosis, I switched gears to chemo for treatment of MDS, instead of ovarian cancer. I was treated for one year with Vidaza to help repair some of the chromosomes. It was helpful. I would go to MD Anderson every 3-4 months for a bone marrow biopsy and they decided the "next step". I am thankful that it has been 5 years and no recurrence of the ovarian cancer. In September, they told me it was time for transplant. We were walking a fine line because at some point the Vidaza loses its effectiveness. Interesting fact... Vidaza has only been available for 5 years. I knew from a year ago that BOTH of my brothers were a perfect match. 😊❤️ Brian was chosen as my donor because he was the youngest. Again, so very blessed and thankful my brothers were a match. We started the transplant process on November 3rd and my transplant was on November 13th.
2009 My name is Tracy Rheudasil and I am battling Ovarian Cancer. My husband, Mark Rheudasil, and I are blessed with a beautiful little girl named Maggie who is 5 1/2 years old.
Thank you, my dear Brian, for creating this web site for us.
Hello family and friends. I was recently diagnosed with advanced stages of ovarian cancer. The news has been devastating and shocking but we are beginning to put one foot in front of the other. We are so thankful for your many prayers, your love and support. We ask for your continued prayers because it is all in God's hands. As Mark says, "we are going to fight the fight".
It is with a heavy heart that I inform everyone that Tracy passed away earlier this evening. We were all with her and we know that she is no longer suffering. I want to thank each and everyone of you for your thoughts and prayers over the last 12 years. We love you all. I will update this site with funeral arrangements, once we figure everything out.
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