Isn't this a marvelous thing God is doing???? Her big brother is going to give her life.
In December 2007 Becky had her normal physical and blood tests with her wonderful Dr. Rock, and the blood tests revealed abnormal blasts in her blood tests, and thinking that it was leukemia, she was seen the next day by a specialist, Dr. Fischer. After a bone marrow aspiration Becky was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder, myelofibrosis; it's a gene (JAK2) that suddenly decided to mutate and scar the bone marrow and not allow blood to be made properly in the bone marrow and kicks it out into the spleen to be made. We were told that there is no "cure", but clinical trial drugs were 2 years in the research stage, with no completed studies, and that there are several medication regimes to help with symptoms, but again no "cure". Dr. Fischer connected us to Dr. Snyder at City of Hope, for consultation on the only cure known, blood stem cell replacement (similar to bone marrow transplant but more effective). February 2009 the myelofibrosis and thrombocytopenia (low platelets, the clotting part of our blood) accelerated at a rapid rate. Becky began those heavy drug regimes and blood platelet transfusion 2-4 times a week! Oh how Becky loves, appreciates and prays for her CDU Nurses (Toni, Fiorella, Joan, Laurie, MaryBeth, Linda, Katie, Julie, Yvette, and Lynn). Becky's body didn't accept the medications. Continuing to pray for healing and seeking God's will about all this, the road just kept getting narrower as to what needed to be done; she is literally living because of God providing the platelet donors. Transfusions wear a person out and you don't have a real quality of life. Accepting the seriousness of it all, May 4th we went back to consult with Dr. Snyder. City of Hope (located 1 hour from our home) began looking for a world-wide donor for matching blood stem cells. Matching criteria would be 14 out of 14 points. Dr. Snyder recommended that Becky's 69 year old brother, Richard, be tested but it would be uncertain if he would physically be able to be the donor or match; research shows that only 1 out of 4 children in a family match. Richard asked to be tested! Richard is a smoker and he was so positive that we would match that he told us that we would have to start buying cigarettes because after I got his blood I'd want to smoke! hahahaha! I love him SO much! In early June, a potential donor was located in Europe, but they were not 100%, but "could work", however further testing of that donor would need to be done. Did you know that bone marrow/blood stem cells are all based on our ethnicity? So, when I explained I was a little of this and that and that, they understood why they were having a challenge finding a match. On June 23 we were told that Richard matches me 100%....only God could do this!!!! God has provided and we are walking His path! July 20th Becky becomes an isolated inpatient and the walk in the valley continues on with Jesus Christ continuing to shepherd the way!
In December 2007 Becky had her normal physical and blood tests with her wonderful Dr. Rock, and the blood tests revealed abnormal blasts in her blood tests, and thinking that it was leukemia, she was seen the next day by a specialist, Dr. Fischer. After a bone marrow aspiration Becky was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder, myelofibrosis; it's a gene (JAK2) that suddenly decided to mutate and scar the bone marrow and not allow blood to be made properly in the bone marrow and kicks it out into the spleen to be made. We were told that there is no "cure", but clinical trial drugs were 2 years in the research stage, with no completed studies, and that there are several medication regimes to help with symptoms, but again no "cure". Dr. Fischer connected us to Dr. Snyder at City of Hope, for consultation on the only cure known, blood stem cell replacement (similar to bone marrow transplant but more effective). February 2009 the myelofibrosis and thrombocytopenia (low platelets, the clotting part of our blood) accelerated at a rapid rate. Becky began those heavy drug regimes and blood platelet transfusion 2-4 times a week! Oh how Becky loves, appreciates and prays for her CDU Nurses (Toni, Fiorella, Joan, Laurie, MaryBeth, Linda, Katie, Julie, Yvette, and Lynn). Becky's body didn't accept the medications. Continuing to pray for healing and seeking God's will about all this, the road just kept getting narrower as to what needed to be done; she is literally living because of God providing the platelet donors. Transfusions wear a person out and you don't have a real quality of life. Accepting the seriousness of it all, May 4th we went back to consult with Dr. Snyder. City of Hope (located 1 hour from our home) began looking for a world-wide donor for matching blood stem cells. Matching criteria would be 14 out of 14 points. Dr. Snyder recommended that Becky's 69 year old brother, Richard, be tested but it would be uncertain if he would physically be able to be the donor or match; research shows that only 1 out of 4 children in a family match. Richard asked to be tested! Richard is a smoker and he was so positive that we would match that he told us that we would have to start buying cigarettes because after I got his blood I'd want to smoke! hahahaha! I love him SO much! In early June, a potential donor was located in Europe, but they were not 100%, but "could work", however further testing of that donor would need to be done. Did you know that bone marrow/blood stem cells are all based on our ethnicity? So, when I explained I was a little of this and that and that, they understood why they were having a challenge finding a match. On June 23 we were told that Richard matches me 100%....only God could do this!!!! God has provided and we are walking His path! July 20th Becky becomes an isolated inpatient and the walk in the valley continues on with Jesus Christ continuing to shepherd the way!
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