Brett's Life-Saving Stem Cell Transplant

In early 2017, Brett was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which is cancer of the blood and bone marrow. CML is caused when the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow create too many white blood cells, and then those damaged white blood cells crowd out healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Since 2017, Brett's CML has been managed with multiple types of oral chemotherapy. Over time, his body has become either intolerant or resistant to each one, and he is now on the last type of that treatment option available. For this reason, his doctor felt it was important to pursue a stem cell transplant.

A stem cell transplant involves using high doses of intensive chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells in the bone marrow, followed by the infusion of healthy stem cells to restore the body's ability to produce blood cells. Brett was matched with a donor in the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry, and we will be forever grateful that this person whom we do not know was willing to donate to save another person's life.

Brett will be admitted to the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Sunday, June 1, to begin his transplant journey. He had a central line placed in his chest for delivery of his chemo, other medications, and the donor cells this past Wednesday. When he is admitted on Sunday, he will begin a several days of intense chemotherapy to prepare his body to receive the donor cells. On Friday, June 6, he will receive the precious gift from his donor (the donor will donate the cells on Thursday, and they will be flown immediately to Georgia). It will be his new birthday.

Brett will have a long, arduous road ahead of him, with at least a month in the hospital and 2-4 weeks of intense monitoring in accommodations near the hospital. It will be important that his body not reject the donor cells and also that the donor cells not attack his normal cells by seeing them as foreign. He will continue on chemotherapy for a while as well as other medications to help guard against or manage any complications. Full recovery can take up to a year or more.

Brett is nervous, somewhat overwhelmed, worrying about physical debilitation, changes in his appearance, not working, loss of income - so many things. As his family, we just want him to focus on his health and persevering through this like he has so many other things in his young life. He's the strongest, most resilient person we know, but we do appreciate and request all of the positivity, prayers, and healing vibes that you can send his way. Thank you.