They say the third time is the charm!
Hello everyone. We are at DHMC on Saturday April 4th, 2009. Pam recieved her non-related donor cells yesterday afternoon. This is her 3rd transplant and as they say "you can never beat a good team 3 times in a row" and we have a good team! Pam continues to be an amazingly strong person. We realize that not everyone has all the info so here is the quick catch up:
Last December Pam had a transplant of cells from her brother Doug. The PET scan in April showed success! Cancer free!
We had a follow up scan in Sept. that showed a relapse. A few small spots had returned. CRAP.
We decided to not tell anyone. Pam was completely healthy in every other way, back to work and feeling "normal". We just couldn't have everyone acting differently around us due to this. We didn't tell the boys either.
In the meantime Dr. Meehan met with us and laid out the game plan. We started with a "booster" of Doug's cells to see if they would knock it out again. A PET scan in December proved that as unsuccessful. So Pam started a chemo regimen in January to prep her for a non-related donor transplant. At this point we started to let people know what was going on as they asked us how Pam was doing.
Here is the deal with this transplant: Much more risk to Pam being her 3rd and a non-related donor :( That is a little nerve racking. The potential for longer term side effects is also greater :( She will need to be very careful for the next several months to not get an infection as this could be very dangerous.
That brings us to today. Cells are in and hopefully getting to work! Pam feels pretty good today and will try to walk around the hospital as much as possible while she is still up to it. Her counts are already dropping and will continue to do so. She can take visitors and would love to see people during her stay here (probably 3 weeks).
Please send e-mails to Pam or I if you want to check in or get her phone # to say hi. If you want to come visit the rule is yes IF: you have NO illness, or have had NO illness in your house!!!!! Better to be safe.
We will update this blog every 3-4 days if you want to continue to check in here.
Troy and Pam
posted by Troy @ 9:58 AM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
Pam and Troy,
Your cheering squad is on deck here and we have been checking the site daily to get the story.... Huge hugs to you all and hang in there.... our prayers are flying your way......and we have good reason to believe in miracles...... much love
Aunt Deb and Uncle Dick
Hi guys - just a note (as it starts to snow heavily but wetly outside) - have had updates from your parents, Pam, and we're thinking of you a LOT! Surprise - all the trees we wanted down are DOWN - (well - not the gigantic pine...) -Gregory wastes no time!- lots of work left, but we've got lots of chain saw fanatics around, so that wont be a problem - it looks great in our yards. LOVE and STRENGTH to you - can't wait to have you home again - Love, Anne (and David, though he's up conducting Tucker et.al. at the concert!)
Hello Troy and Pam,
I periodically check the blog to see if anything has been entered. I was surprised to see this entry. We are praying for you. And for the the speedy work of the donor cells. We hope all goes well at DHMC and that you are able to return home quickly. Your in our thoughts often. Lots of Love-Tffiny and Scott
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