I Have a MATCH!

It’s one of the few times in my life that I have been left speechless!  :)  I just got off the phone with my MUD Coordinator, and she told me that the M-47 blood test that came in last week has been completed.  He is a perfect 14 of 14 match!  That means that he does not have any of the DP issues!!  In addition, a new donor possibility arrived today from a M-31.  She will go ahead and test his as well so there can be another back up.  While the doctors may still want to consider the advantages of the F-22/13 of 14/with the DP issues against the M-47/14 of 14/with no DP issues, she said that she is 99.9% certain that no DP trumps age. 

As soon as I got off the phone with Susan, I called Paul.  While this is exactly what we have been hoping and praying for, the reality of finding my match left us both speechless.  I know it’s not difficult to imagine Paul speechless, but I’m a totally different story!  :)

The M-47 is from Europe.  I’m not sure what that means for transportation of the stem cells, if it will take longer, if they will opt for someone closer….  I’m sure we will learn more about that at our appointment in February with my transplant doctor. 

Maybe he’s from Italy with a love of red wine and fine foods.  Maybe he’s from Scotland and taught at the University of Glasgow where Joshua received his Master’s.  Maybe he’s from my ancestral island of Ireland or perhaps of German descent as was my paternal grandmother.  Wherever he is from, God made a man four years after I was born with the same HLA typing as I have.  He knew way back then that I would need them someday.  Thank you, Lord, that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Maybe he knows my God.  Maybe he has yet to meet Him. 

Well, I’m still fairly speechless.  I don’t know why.  We pray expectantly, then when He answers we act all surprised.  Goodness.  Humans. 

Paul was eager to move up our scheduled MD Anderson appointments, but there doesn’t seem to be a need to do so.  And who knows what M-31 might turn out to be.  The blessing is that when we go back February 7-8, we will definitely have plenty to talk about.  Maybe by then we will no longer be speechless.

Donor Update

Several have asked for a donor update and explanation of how the “one” is chosen.  First of all, the second possible donor, who was scheduled to do their blood test on December 21, cancelled.  It could have been holiday timing or a change of mind.  However, I learned today that it was a 22 year-old male, which fits in the “best option” category.  My MUD (Matched Unrelated Donor) Coordinator said that while male transplant patients do not always fair well with female donors, female transplant patients often do the best with a male donor.  I think it may have something to do with the antibodies that women make with each pregnancy.  So my MUD Coordinator is going to make a second request to M-22 (male, 22 years).

Another 10 of 10, who was previously unavailable until after December, is now noted in the system as available.  That person is a 23 year-old male.  My coordinator is going to send a request for a blood sample from him as well.  (Everyone she is asking for blood samples are already a 10 of 10 match according to their mouth swab.  MD Anderson does further testing to determine more extensive matching, possible antigens, etc.)

If neither M-22 nor M-23 responds, there is a M-53 and a F-42 next on the list, and a M-31 and F-21 from overseas.

So why can’t we just go with the F-22 who is 13 of 14 with the antibody/antigen issue?  It goes back to engraftment.  If the transplant doesn’t take, my organs can simply shut down.  Because my disease is stable for the time being, they are able to continue the search for the BEST match.  We have read many articles and blogs of folks who did not fair well post transplant, so it is important to eliminate as many obstacles as possible.  The better the match, the better my odds of coming out of this thing alive and well.

Our prayer this week is that both M-22 and M-23 would respond so MD Anderson can do the necessary tests, with the hope that one of them might be the “one.”  Thank you for praying with us.

Waiting expectantly…

Tamara

The Weight of the World…and a Possible Donor

How do you carry the weight of the world when extra pounds keep piling on?  As a cancer patient, the fear of the unknown is a daily battle.  As a cancer patient with uncommon components, the unknown is a bit greater.  It is easy to read and quote the Scriptures that talk about laying down our worries and letting our Savior carry us through, but it can be more difficult to actually do it on a moment-by-moment basis. 

As a mother, I worry (no, let’s say that I am mindful, prayerful, and thoughtfully concerned) about each of our children…their relationships, their jobs, their finances, their families, their health.  I am concerned and prayerful for my grandchildren, especially Dana with her failed hearing tests.  As a wife, whatever troubles my husband troubles me…whether it’s his back, his job, or his commitment to make everything right for me.  As a daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, and friend, I pray and follow the medical, emotional, relational, financial, and overall needs of those I love.  There are those dealing with everything from the trivial to the traumatic, from simple to life threatening.  They all matter. 

How do we compartmentalize all that is in our hearts and minds?  How do we carry the load?  How do we lay it down?

In my thoughts this morning, I admitted that I am worried about finding a donor.   And I’m worried about what will actually happen when they do!  It’s scary to consider the reality of going through the transplant process and embracing the variety of possible outcomes.  The last conversation with my Transplant Coordinator revealed that she had sent four requests but no one had yet responded.  Today, she told me that one went in for his/her blood test yesterday and we should have the results by next week.  She said that it looks positive so far, and that once we have a confirmed donor it could take as little as four weeks to move forward with the transplant.  Wow!

It's hard to stay focused when I'm tired.  It’s hard to push myself when I don’t know what tomorrow holds.  Of course, I don’t suppose any of us know what tomorrow holds!  We just take one day at a time, thankful for His daily provision of grace.  I stand with you in prayer for the spoken as well as the unspoken requests on your heart.  Thank you for standing with us as well.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."  Proverbs 12:25

“Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”  Psalm 55:22

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:34

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:7

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  

Philippians 4:19