My leukemia's back.

[Ol Grey Mare]

Blood donation is something I am very passionate about. .....people giving blood is the train my dad was there to wall my sister down the aisle, we knew he was at the point of imminent death, but transfusions got him through with enough strength to make that walk. It was his big goal when it came to the point of there is nothing else we can do for you....about two weeks before her wedding, he left us two weeks later. Those donors have us all a gift, not just my dad.....and that is why I donate every time I can

 

[lazy gardener]

Good morning everyone! Welcome back!!! May I please join team Rachel? I would love to add her to my prayer list. I haven't read the entire journey yet but it sound like she has some amazing prayer warriors fighting for her! I too have Leukemia but my 10 year battle has been nothing compared to hers. I hope it's ok if I join the battle but in the mean time I am off to get caught up so that I can pray with knowledge.
Blessed day to all

Glad to have you here with us chickisoup. Jump right in. Long story short, Rachel is fighting a hard battle, and God has her back, and all the rest of her. We are her cheer leaders.

View attachment 548413 I woke up this morning with the strongest feeling that this is going to be a turn-around week for Rachel!! So got the prayers going and going hard!

Yesterday was huge for Ashley! She had her surgery to remove her port! It's been in there for 2 1/2 years and she was flat happy to get it out!

Linda is doing great. Out of the hospital and although she's very weak and needs help to walk, she showed up at every thing that was going on while we were back there. Hard to believe that she was on life support and totally unresponsive from May1-3, home from the hospital on May 9th!

Edited to add: I dunno how to get the photo BELOW the post. But L-R, standing are Ron, Bev, and Lori. Seated in front are Linda and good ol' Blooie.

Blooie, so glad to hear that Linda is doing well, that Ashley has arrived at yet an other milestone. Love the pic.

Yep. On all of the above. I can't donate anymore either but what I do do is whenever I come across a blood drive, I stop and thank the donors because if it were not for them I would not be here. When first dxd, I had zero healthy white cells and required two transfusions before they would let me leave quarantine.
I also love sitting next to hubby outside and watch all the "critters" go after him instead of me. He is not amused by my entertainment.

Chickisoup: That you would take the time to stop at a blood drive and offer encouragement is HUGE. If not for 6 selfless folks who took time out of their too busy schedules to donate blood, I would be a widow today. I have not donated for quite a while. (borderline anemia) So, when I do donate, it really saps the strength out of me. But, I have hosted 3 blood drives. The excuses I hear from folks when I've asked them to donate: "I'm afraid of needles." This from a biker Mama covered with tats and with multiple body piercings. "I don't have time." "I'm busy that day." (of course she's also busy every other day of the year, and has to drive right by the donor center at least 2x/week. "I might pass out". (How many kids do you have?) "The sight of blood creeps me out." (Well, honey, be thankful that you have enough blood and are healthy and COULD spare some of it. Ever get a paper cut? skin your knee? How many kids do you have? Ever consider that you, or one of your kids, or some other precious person close to you might need blood, and it won't be available because folks are afraid of needles, too busy, or get creeped out by the sight of blood?) And my final rant regarding the subject: Of all the people who COULD donate blood, less than 10% of them ever have.

ok, I'm done now.

Love you Rachel, and lifting you up to the throne room every day.

 

[lazy gardener]

Praying for you and yours, Rachel.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

More??? You have no idea what life you may have saved, could even have been mine. If it were not for anonymous blood donors I may not be here today. I was in such poor shape when I was dxd with CML I was in such poor shape they would not allow me out of quarantine until after two transfusions, so, THANK YOU!

Glad to have you here with us...I had CGL..... my bone marrow transplant was 1 Nov 1997.....yeah if a could donate blood I would.
I'm headed to bed soon but thought I'd stop by and see what was shaking..
I really hope to hear something again soon.
You all have no idea how glad I was when thePM from Don came......

 

[chickisoup]

Amen! continued prayers for all of team Rachel

 

[chickisoup]

Glad to have you here with us...I had CGL..... my bone marrow transplant was 1 Nov 1997.....yeah if a could donate blood I would.
I'm headed to bed soon but thought I'd stop by and see what was shaking..
I really hope to hear something again soon.
You all have no idea how glad I was when thePM from Don came......

Me too. I wish I could still donate. Hoping we hear again soon.

 

[FridayYet]

Good morning Team Rachel.

Thinking about you today Rachel, and wishing you strength in your fight.

 

[lazy gardener]

Rachel, Don, SM, and the other 2 locusts: You're in my thoughts and prayers. May God's peace rest firmly on you at this time.

 

[donrae]

Hi all! The is her Honey posting to update you all. Thank you all for the love and support and for being such an group for her to belong to. She has asked that I tell you all what's going on, so please grab some tissues and sit down.

Rachel had received another round of induction chemotherapy for her leukemia. During her time of little to no immune system, she developed a systematic fungal infection and a bad pneumonia. The pneumonia has simce resolved. She has had one sinus surgery and two eye surgeries combatting the fungus. Rachel has lost her left eye in the process and can not see out of her right eye. The ophthalmologists have said that they will continue to follow her, but unless the infectious disease team can find something else, all they can do is wait to see what her immune system and the iv antifungals will do for her vision.

The fungus has been found in her brain during a mri. The doctors say they are watching for any progression through symptoms.

They believe that the leukemia is currently in remission due to current blood tests, but have not been able to confirm with a bone marrow biopsy. Even if it is, they would need to do a few rounds of consolidation chemotherapy to do it properly. The real problem is that they can not give her more chemotherapy until at least 90 days after the fungal infection is under control. It is still not under control.

Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the iceberg. As you may already know, graft versus host disease has already damaged her lungs. Her damaged lungs and chemotherapy have damaged her heart. I have been in the hospital with her for these many weeks and I can tell you she is a fighter! I believe that God is with us! The doctors say she is currently beating the odds. She is still here fighting! Thank you again for everything! With love, Don of donrae

 

[Kiki]

You help her fight Mr. Rachel!