It all started with a backache and a trip to the emergency room where I was given pain pills and told it was just muscle spasms, but they took blood anyways just to make sure.
A few days later after still feeling sick like I was coming down with flu and going to the doctor again and having him think I had a viral infection, upon coming home that night I received a call from the ER saying they got the results of my blood tests and that my white cell count was low and they wanted me to come in ASAP to make sure that something else wasn’t wrong.
The next morning I went to the ER again and they did some more blood tests and they all came back with the same results. They then admitted me into the hospital and said the next day they were going to do a bone marrow biopsy. The next day they did the biopsy and we played the waiting game. Monday morning came and finally the doctor came in and told me that I had mixture of All & Alm Leukemia and that "All" is more common in kids than adults.
WHAT??? What could be wrong with me? I feel just like normal, there can’t be anything wrong with me. After that moment of shock passed I knew the only thing that I had to do was get better. Nothing is going to stop me from being with my daughter and family.
Chemotherapy started a few days later and my family decided that they there would always be someone there with me at the hospital. My husband would stay the night and leave to work in the morning and my dad would take the morning shift and my brother would take the afternoon shift. Lots of friends and family were always stopping by to lend support and put family pictures all over the walls.
The nurses or my healing angels as I called them were also a big support. They were always surprised that I was so upbeat about things but I knew that nothing was going to get in my way and I would do what it takes to beat this disease.
The doctor said that after the chemotherapy that he felt I should have a Bone Marrow Transplant. They tested both my brothers to see if they were a match and miracle of all miracles. They were both a match. After going thru 4 weeks of chemo they did another biopsy and the results came back…. NO CANCER CELLS.
I was officially in remission and in a few days was going home for a few weeks. The first thing I ate when I got out was pizza. Who ever thought Domino’s could taste so good. When you have hospital food for 42 days, I think anything would be good.
I am now at home spending time with my family and waiting to get my bone marrow transplant and get this all behind me. If there is one thing that I could say to anyone, if something like this god forbid ever happens to them or someone in their family…. With Love, Faith & Determination you can overcome anything.