"Be the Match"

We learned on Friday the schedule for Carla’s Bone Marrow Transplant. Before that day arrives she will need to complete a series of tests similar to beginning her first chemotherapy treatment; CT, EKG, PET scan, bone marrow biopsy, and some others. Many of these will happen tomorrow and the others before her admit date.

We are learning so much about how to help other people. We are so fortunate to have a bone marrow donor for Carla, but others are not so fortunate. Due to the diversity of our great nation, genetic matching becomes harder and harder for certain people.

Many of our friends and family have asked about how they can help or what can they do. Donating blood is a great way. Another way is becoming a Bone Marrow Donor. You could “Be the Match” for someone. It truly is a gift of life, as we have found out. Joining the donor registry is easy by requesting a test kit and it mailing back. Minority donors are in high demand, Black and African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, including South Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Latino, Multiple race.

Marrow can be collected from peripheral blood, meaning from your veins, after stimulating them to produce extra. It’s quite amazing, and mainly an inconvenience for the donor. If you would like to “Be the Match” for someone, you can start at www.marrow.org. The Marrow.org site has so much information about the Bone Marrow Transplant process and donating.

As of right now, Carla will be admitted Sunday, April 10, 2011. And if the schedule remains true, she will receive her donor stem cells (bone marrow cells) on April 19. She plans to enjoy as much of the next 2 weeks as possible before she has to go in for those 4-6 weeks. Your thoughts, prayers, love, assistance are greatly appreciated.

Happy Day!

Dr. Thompson (the radiologist) checked me again today. He can’t feel any of the tumors at all (Yipeeeeee) and is very impressed with how well I am handling the treatments. I celebrated by run/walking 2+ miles trying to make myself stronger. Only 3 more treatments to go. What a good day!! :)

Had to go to the dentist today for a cleaning and to make sure no cavities. Got a clean bill of health and a big hug from Dr. Woodbury. The whole office was so nice to me and even offered a free cleaning after transplant if I want one (chemo and radiation can be bad on your teeth for some people.) Ewwww. :(

Tomorrow I will get my mapping done for the TBI (Total Body Irradiation) scan which will happen before the bone marrow transplant. We meet with the oncology doctors to discuss everything else I need to do to prepare for. More tests to come...but I am used to those.

So far....a great day with great news!!

MORE GOOD NEWS!!

Things are going really well this week. Not only are the back and breast tumors shrinking but I got a call from one of the oncology doctors a few days ago. My liver samples were sent to a specialist in Oregon (Dr. Lee) who went over everything. He found that the liver is NOT cancerous (YEAH). :) He thinks it is a benign adenoma. This is obviously great news, but I am still wondering why it took so long to find it out. We’ll watch the liver during the rest of my treatments…but it might be something I might just have to live with. As of now the therasphere is off the table!! (YES…..one less procedure I have to do!)

We are now focusing back on the AML. I will finish out my radiation through the end of the week. I’ll do another CT in about 3 weeks to compare the tumors from the beginning to see actually how much they have shrunk and if they are gone.

They have scheduled me the second week of April to go back into the hospital for more chemo, a full body radiation process and the bone marrow transplant. This of course all depends on getting the donor ready too. Until then I have to do more tests to prep my body for the biggest step(to the dentist, LOTS of blood work, a radiation mapping scan, heart/lung function test and another bone marrow biopsy (not looking forward to that. OUCH!) I will be hospitalized for a minimum of 4 weeks plus the recovery time which can last another 4-8 weeks but hopefully at home. I am going to enjoy being home for another few weeks and then mentally preparing myself for the looooong road ahead.

I know that I say this in almost every post but thanks again to all of you for helping out with dinners and getting the kids to and from their activities while I am gone. Everyday I get a card, letter or inspirational email sent to me. It helps me so much. Getting through this isn’t easy…but having friends and family makes the process that much better.

SHRINKAGE!!

YES! Finally some good news. Radiologist said after 8 days of treatments the breast and back tumors are shrinking very well. :) yipeeeee! I will continue the next 2 weeks of radiation and then get another CT done to decide if we need more radiation or not.

On my way out I ran into another patient today who has been an inspiration to me since day one. She is always so positive and hopeful about her cancer. She finished her treatments and was headed to her 6th (yuck) bone marrow biopsy (those hurt like an motherf**er) and I hugged her tight. Like me she too may need a bone marrow transplant.

She seems so sad and depressed about the long journey she has taken. She looked beautiful and all I could do was hug her and send positive thoughts. I am thinking a lot about her today and hope that all goes well. I haven't hit that type of depression yet.....but I can understand how it can get to that. Please send prayers and happiness her way.

We are still waiting to hear from the liver radiologist as to when I can have the therasphere done.

It may be another 7-10 days for that!

Another thank you to everyone!

Last night Jeff’s mom and sister (with her kids) brought us dinner. Later Jeff’s brother showed up with his kids too. It was so great to catch up with them and visit. I feel so thankful for all the friends and family that have rallied around us and wanted to help. Thanks again to all of you!!

I am still doing really well with little side effects. Radiation can make you tired but nothing too bad yet. I have another 2 weeks of daily radiation and then the doctors will decide if I need more or not. The mapping procedure for the Therasphere made me “loopy” for a day or too but I got through it just fine.

My neice Sophia
My nephews Ethan and Sean

My fantasic husband Jeff

My great SIL Janine.

My supportive MIL Rose

A day at IMC

First, thank you eveyone for everything you are doing for us, whether it be a meal, carpool, phone call, text, a "hang in there"... it means so much to each of us.

We spent the day today at IMC. Carla completed the mapping procedure to determine if the Therasphere treatment would be possible. The doctor told us that the procedure went very well and Carla did very well. This means Carla can move forward with the actual procedure, which we hope will be soon, no solid timeframe yet. I am so proud of her. She keeps moving forward, even when it's tough. I love you honey.

Thank you to the Gorski's, Stevens', Huntzingers, Colleen/Vahl, Steve/Lisa Petersen, Gaykowski's for bringing us dinner.

Love,

The Hennessy's

Today we had consultations with Liver and Leukemia radiologists to plan out the next steps. After some idle time, we now have some direction and a few procedures lined up. As Carla discussed, one of the procedures will be to target the liver tumor with radiation beads and see how it responds to therapy. An initial test procedure will be done to make sure the therapy can target the area before the real therapy starts, so she gets two identical procedures; a test and real procedure (not really a bargain). The test may be done this Tuesday, then the real one 7-10 days later.

In addition, Carla will start radiation therapy on Monday for the leukemia masses, 15 treatments over 3 weeks.

Carla is excited to start the next steps in her recovery and get well. We will know more in the next 4-8 weeks what the next treatments will be.

Currently, Carla is not in chemotherapy treatment and is able to live a somewhat normal life. Please feel free to contact us to come visit or get together if you have time. She is still feeling healthy and strong!