September 10, 2006

Last Wednesday was a huge milestone for me. I had a CBC blood draw then and the results indicated there were NO blast (leukemia) cells in my blood. Friday’s CBC also indicated my blood was blast free. This is so incredible since my white blood cells were about 97% blast in mid May 2006. Your prayers coupled with the study drug I’m on have really done the trick. This week on Wednesday I’ll go in for another bone marrow biopsy and it is probable that my marrow will have between 0 and 1% blast cells in it. My strength is returning and I feel great. There are some side effects to the study drug, but they are easily lived with.

My Oncologist will probably talk a lot about the timing for my stem cell transplant on Wednesday. There are blood samples from two additional, potential donors that should have been processed and available to see this Wednesday. I am assuming that the actual donor will be picked this week from the two matches and the two additional donors. The actual donor will be contacted immediately to determine when he (or she) will be available.

I’m not exactly sure how long the process to get the donor and me ready for transplant will take. If circumstances take normal times I understand that the transplant will be sometime in October or early November. The doctors still are unsure how much chemo I will need to give me the best balance between minimal, long term side effects and lowest chance for future relapse of the leukemia. I’m glad they are making that decision because I don’t have a clue.

I have been telling everyone for quite some time that the plan was to find a donor and get myself down to no leukemia cells. Now that the plan is going as well as could ever be expected, I am sitting here amazed that God has been so gracious to me. It is one thing to have a perfect plan, but it is another to experience that plan working so beautifully. I, of course, am thanking God that I can have some more time with you, my family and friends. But I am also thankful for each of you who have used some your precious time to pray for and support us. God has truly blessed us with many great people in our lives.

Barbara and I have known for a while that a stem cell transplant is essential for the long term treatment of my CML. However, we have been putting off thinking about the ramifications of that process. There were so many large hurdles to overcome and we needed to focus on those first. We solicit your prayers. This transplant process is going to be difficult without a special measure of God’s peace and grace.

Many thanks for your willingness to rally round us and be our support in prayer.