This is my grandma, I call her mama, you all know her as Bonnie. She is a great lady, kind, strong, sincere, and super loving. A day doesn't go by when I don't receive a kiss or a squeeze from her.
Mama has been sick for some time now. Back in the Fall of 2015 she grew to be very weak and tired. After the doctors were led to do several test, they discovered she had a rare bone marrow disorder in which the bone marrow does not produce enough heathy blood cells. This is called Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This disease can be treated with the use of a stem cell transplant. (More to come about that).
In the process of treating the MDS, this disease morphed into Acute Myeloid Leukemia, causing the doctors to move briskly to get the leukemia into remission. Mama went under 3 consolidation chemo treatments and thank God, those treatments put the Leukemia into remission. So the doctors again were able to continue the path given to work with the MDS.
A stem cell transplant is what is needed in order to treat this rare disease. My great uncles were tested to see if possibly they were matches. Unfortunately, neither were, so using bethematch.org, the doctors searched for a perfect stem cell/ bone marrow donor for my mama. There was no donors who had a 100% match for Mama. So, they looked further, into the international registry. With God, anything is possible! There was a 100% match of a gracious hero in Germany. So the transplant begins......
Mama and Pop needed to move temporarily (3-4 months) to Durham, NC for the transplant process at Duke University Hospital. They are able to stay in a sterile apartment while over there. Mama had to undergo another chemo treatment, this one would kill off her own bone marrow. On June 15th, mama was injected with the donors heathly stem cells/bone marrow. This day, we call her re-Birthday. "Happy Re-Birthday, Mama!"
As with any medical procedure, we wait, we pray, and we hope things go smoothly. Any donation you could graciously give, would help to offset the multiple medical bills that are coming Mama and Pop's way and also would help to offset the rent of the apartment in Durham.
If if you are unable to donate, please consider becoming a stem cell donor. It is an easy process, go to bethematch.org and register or look in your community for a donor event. It is a simple swab of the mouth process.
I miss my Mama and Pop, and I look forward to seeing them both soon. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We will continue to update you all as well.
:)
Mama has been sick for some time now. Back in the Fall of 2015 she grew to be very weak and tired. After the doctors were led to do several test, they discovered she had a rare bone marrow disorder in which the bone marrow does not produce enough heathy blood cells. This is called Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This disease can be treated with the use of a stem cell transplant. (More to come about that).
In the process of treating the MDS, this disease morphed into Acute Myeloid Leukemia, causing the doctors to move briskly to get the leukemia into remission. Mama went under 3 consolidation chemo treatments and thank God, those treatments put the Leukemia into remission. So the doctors again were able to continue the path given to work with the MDS.
A stem cell transplant is what is needed in order to treat this rare disease. My great uncles were tested to see if possibly they were matches. Unfortunately, neither were, so using bethematch.org, the doctors searched for a perfect stem cell/ bone marrow donor for my mama. There was no donors who had a 100% match for Mama. So, they looked further, into the international registry. With God, anything is possible! There was a 100% match of a gracious hero in Germany. So the transplant begins......
Mama and Pop needed to move temporarily (3-4 months) to Durham, NC for the transplant process at Duke University Hospital. They are able to stay in a sterile apartment while over there. Mama had to undergo another chemo treatment, this one would kill off her own bone marrow. On June 15th, mama was injected with the donors heathly stem cells/bone marrow. This day, we call her re-Birthday. "Happy Re-Birthday, Mama!"
As with any medical procedure, we wait, we pray, and we hope things go smoothly. Any donation you could graciously give, would help to offset the multiple medical bills that are coming Mama and Pop's way and also would help to offset the rent of the apartment in Durham.
If if you are unable to donate, please consider becoming a stem cell donor. It is an easy process, go to bethematch.org and register or look in your community for a donor event. It is a simple swab of the mouth process.
I miss my Mama and Pop, and I look forward to seeing them both soon. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We will continue to update you all as well.
:)
Organizer and beneficiary
Bonnie Reed
Beneficiary