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Our Story...Part 2 |
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Pat: |
A sibling, if found to be a match, would be the best possible donor. Kristin, my other daughter, was not a match, but my husband matched five of the six markers that are important. Even though he did not share the same blood type he was still a possibility, but the search was still on for someone that might be better. Pre-leukemia was a turbulent stage for me. I was still shell shocked and did not know what the immediate future held. A Mediport was surgically placed in Kelsey’s chest and we were sent home to continue life as normal as possible. Every 2 weeks we returned to Children’s so that Kelsey could receive a blood transfusion and platelets if needed as her disease continued to erode her marrow.
There was no normal then. There was denial, anger and the worst fear imaginable for any parent.
Something as simple as buying a pair of tennis shoes for Kelsey
sent me into a tailspin… Please Lord, let her be able to wear these shoes out.
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| Kelsey: |
Within four weeks I entered into leukemia. The doctors were able to diagnose the sub-class, erythro, and now felt confident about my chemo roadmap. I was to receive a constant drip of a cocktail of about six different chemo drugs, rest for a week and do the same again. My blood would then be allowed to replenish itself on its own and then I would do that entire process again. Then I would begin the transplant part of my treatment. That would consist of eight days of completely different drugs and then the transplant. |
Pat: |
I was actually relieved to get the diagnosis, although a rare diagnosis for a child, we were moving forward with a treatment. When the doctors said that it would be intense chemo I didn’t think much about it. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that the first four days were so easy. Kelsey wasn’t nauseated, maintained her spirits and was sent home smiling for five days. During the next four-day drip Kelsey’s blood counts dropped to virtually nothing. I now realized what “intense” met. She began to receive blood transfusions and platelets on a regular basis. Prophylactic support drugs were by now a huge part of her regimen. Even then, she was so immuno-suppressed that she became sick from the bacteria and viruses that laid dormant in her body. All told, her roadmap before the transplant took about four months of in hospital care. There were weeks of daily fevers where I remained at Kelsey’s side in a constant dialogue with God asking for the gift of a day and at times for moments. |
| Kelsey: |
I got to go home for a month before my transplant so that I could become stronger. When went back to the hospital for transplant we called it “going to the back of the bus.” I was still on the oncology floor but in a section that was an even more sterile environment. Visitors were limited because of germ issues. Everyone had to wear a gown in case their street clothes were carrying germs, and before anything could come into the unit it would have to be wiped down with a special antiseptic. ABSOLUTELY NO GERMS was the policy. I was back there for about six weeks. My transplant took about eight hours. It was scary at first but really it was just like a blood infusion. We made a movie during it and turned it into a soap opera. It was pretty fun and entertaining. I did well through the entire six weeks. |
Pat: |
The morning we left Glenwood Springs to take the 180 mile trip back to the hospital will remain with me forever. It was snowing hard and we had mountain passes to go over, but the very hardest thing for me to do was to shut our front door behind us. I was totally lost in prayer.
Lord, please, please… dear God, please let us open this door and enter as a complete family again. Don’t let us come back without Kelsey.
Allow her to come back to cuddle with her dog, fight with her sister,and use her own telephone. Please grant Kristin peace and courage while she is thrown into adulthood, while she continues in high school here on her own in the midst of our turmoil. Let her heal and regain her spot as a teenager no matter what happens. Let John’s marrow work without problems in Kelsey’s body and please, Lord, let it give Kelsey life. Grant me the strength to control my fear, to help Kelsey fight, to endure, to think straight, and to not go to pieces in front of my girls. Allow her to live, Lord, please allow her to live. I guess at that point I was pleading, not praying. It was truly work for me to breathe that day.
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