I know it may seem odd to call this day a “Re-Birthday,” but when it’s the day that literally gives you your life back, the term becomes more appropriate.
Back on August 29, 2011, we first heard the words, “I’m so sorry…you have leukemia.” During the next days and weeks as we dove head first into learning everything we could about my particular disease and as they did further testing and found out that mine was a more aggressive than they originally thought, we were so thankfully and quickly accepted into MD Anderson into both the leukemia and stem cells departments. My original oncologist did his residency with my leukemia doctor and interned with my stem cell doctor…so he had incredible connections to get me to the absolute right doctors for my condition. God was orchestrating this whole thing!
By early fall, the search for a stem cell donor was under way. We had several hopefuls that ended up not working out. It was a real roller coaster. But there was this M-41 that kept popping up. Then it was gone for a while. Then he was back, and he looked like such a good match…I had all these weird markers and it looked like M-41 was the best fit. He was finally contacted for confirmed interest, then for first round of testing, then finally for the apheresis process. [Just a note here…M-41 ended up being a wonderful mailman from Massachusetts who donated AGAIN for me when we needed addition cells for my (2) Donor Lymphocyte Infusions (DLI’s)]
Pre-chemo treatment was more difficult that the actual stem cell transplant! The day before and of the transplant, I was very anxious. And God sent an angel in the form of a nurse named Mira who spoke truth and peace over me in the early hours of transplant Day 0. I will never ever forget her. She was on my floor again when I was getting my CAR T-Cell Trial that didn’t go real well and I ended up back in the hospital with an infection for six weeks…. But she made sure that she found time to get over to my room even though I wasn’t in her route. She was absolutely God’s angel. I was also thankful to be there at that time because she was retiring in just a few weeks! I had the opportunity to write a letter to be included in her retirement package letting her know what a difference she made in my life there at MDA. God’s timing is always right.
While my stem cell transplant didn’t get rid of my leukemia, it kept it managed for a couple years…long enough for them to invent something else to try, which is what my journey has been about. Each treatment has kept me alive long enough until the next thing…and the next thing. Until this last thing…my AVO trial. It has definitely squished it down the best! While it’s still not gone, it’s giving me more time and hope than any other treatment. And I can do this one again when needed. That’s a rare thing.
So, I’ve tried not to go into all the technical stuff because that’s not what really matters. What matters is that by the grace of God and the wisdom of the doctors at MDA and the prayers of many and the care of my sweetheart and many family and friends…I am celebrating 12 years since the day I received my millions of new cells that gave me new life. (Paul knows the number.) And to M-41…I am forever thankful for your gift. You saved my life.
