Help the Smith's
Donation protected
In April of this year, Cliff was diagnosed with Myleodysplastic
Syndrome Refractory Anemia with excess blasts of 15% (a.k.a. MDS).
Starting in May, Cliff received two rounds of Chemotherapy at the Bellin Cancer Center in Marinette, WI. Unfortunately, treatment did not result in any positive progress in fighting Cliff's cancer. We were advised our next steps were to receive treatment at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Froedtert Hospital offers many options in treatment and more aggressive therapy that Cliff was needing to fight the MDS. So, we are off to Froedtert!
We are trusting in Jesus through this journey. God has healed us and provided our needs many times in the past, so we know He will not forsake us now. We believe, trust and know where ever this journey ends, we will be giving God all the praise and glory!
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him I will trust." Psalms 91:1-2
When we arrived at Froedtert, there were two chemotherapy treatment options available for Cliff. The first was one of traditional chemo that would quickly destroy the blast cells yet with very harsh phyiscal side effects. The second was a newer chemo treatment that would be a little longer process in destroying the blast cells, but will have much less harsh side effects on Cliff's body. It was explained that either treatment plan would bring the same end results, so we opted for the second treatment. Cliff's blast count was at 15% and the chemo needed to bring the count down to 2-3% to be ready for the transplant. After treatment, the blast count was now at 0.6%. This was a huge victory for Clifford.Praise God!
However, chemotherapy is bitter sweet. Because while it does kill blast cells it also kills white cells just the same. The white cells make up our immune system which fights off infection. Due to Cliff's now compromised immune system he developed a few infections with the worse being a fungal infection in his lungs. And he also had many complications with the antifungal medication. We received the news that the transplant procedure was on hold until these issues were resolved and infection started to regress.
After 26 days of IV treatment of antifungal medications in the hospital, After 4 more weeks of IV infusions, many tests and procedures we received the news on Thursday, October 28th. Cliff was placed on the schedule to start the transplant process. He will be admitted on Friday, November 8th to start 5 days of strong chemo to kill all his immune cells to avoid transplant rejection. After one day of rest, Cliff will recieve the bone marrow transplant on Thursday, Nov. 14th. We have faith in God that He will protect, help and heal Cliff with a full recovery
Syndrome Refractory Anemia with excess blasts of 15% (a.k.a. MDS).
Starting in May, Cliff received two rounds of Chemotherapy at the Bellin Cancer Center in Marinette, WI. Unfortunately, treatment did not result in any positive progress in fighting Cliff's cancer. We were advised our next steps were to receive treatment at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Froedtert Hospital offers many options in treatment and more aggressive therapy that Cliff was needing to fight the MDS. So, we are off to Froedtert!
We are trusting in Jesus through this journey. God has healed us and provided our needs many times in the past, so we know He will not forsake us now. We believe, trust and know where ever this journey ends, we will be giving God all the praise and glory!
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him I will trust." Psalms 91:1-2
When we arrived at Froedtert, there were two chemotherapy treatment options available for Cliff. The first was one of traditional chemo that would quickly destroy the blast cells yet with very harsh phyiscal side effects. The second was a newer chemo treatment that would be a little longer process in destroying the blast cells, but will have much less harsh side effects on Cliff's body. It was explained that either treatment plan would bring the same end results, so we opted for the second treatment. Cliff's blast count was at 15% and the chemo needed to bring the count down to 2-3% to be ready for the transplant. After treatment, the blast count was now at 0.6%. This was a huge victory for Clifford.Praise God!
However, chemotherapy is bitter sweet. Because while it does kill blast cells it also kills white cells just the same. The white cells make up our immune system which fights off infection. Due to Cliff's now compromised immune system he developed a few infections with the worse being a fungal infection in his lungs. And he also had many complications with the antifungal medication. We received the news that the transplant procedure was on hold until these issues were resolved and infection started to regress.
After 26 days of IV treatment of antifungal medications in the hospital, After 4 more weeks of IV infusions, many tests and procedures we received the news on Thursday, October 28th. Cliff was placed on the schedule to start the transplant process. He will be admitted on Friday, November 8th to start 5 days of strong chemo to kill all his immune cells to avoid transplant rejection. After one day of rest, Cliff will recieve the bone marrow transplant on Thursday, Nov. 14th. We have faith in God that He will protect, help and heal Cliff with a full recovery
Organizer and beneficiary
Clifford Smith
Organizer
Racine, WI
Jeremiah Smith
Beneficiary
