Babe Spychalla (kicking cancers ass)

Shortly after Thanksgiving, Babe, developed what she thought was a sinus infection.  After a week or so of antibiotics and several negative covid tests she began to develop fevers and coughing along with it. She had lab work done on December 11th at Lakewood Clinic that showed significantly low platelets, 55 (normal 150-450).  They sent her to the hospital in staples for additional scans and test and hospitalized her in hopes to get additional information.  She was diagnosed with Influenza A and pneumonia.  They treated her for both and continued to monitor her lab work.  Her platelets were low enough that they warranted for a blood transfusion and for her to be given platelets.  

Unfortunately, this did not bring Babes   platelets numbers up enough.  On December 15th after consultation, Babe,was transferred to the St. Cloud hospital.  While in St. Cloud she was again given additional platelets and a bone marrow  biopsy was performed.  She stayed in St. Cloud hospital until the evening of December 17th when the Doctors felt she could go home and follow up on her  lab work on Monday December 21st while they waited for her biopsy results.  

On Monday, December 21st, she returned to Lakewood for her lab work.  Once again her platelets showed a significant drop, down to 9 (again, very concerning).  At this time she was given  more platelets and returned home to  wait for her follow-up call regarding her bone marrow result and additional direction from the St. Cloud Oncologist/Hematologist.  

December 23rd the highly anticipated phone call came in to tell Babe that she tested positive for a type of acute leukemia.  Obviously this news hit them  very hard.  It was highly recommended  and suggested by the Oncologist for her to return to the St. Cloud hospital the  following day (Christmas Eve) to have a meeting  with the doctor and get  admitted  into a room.  She started an aggressive (high dose) chemotherapy treatment on December 25th that she receives around the clock for 7 days.  

 She is planned to have another bone marrow biopsy after this, on January 6th and then after that at some point shortly there after she will do another 5 day (low dose) chemo stint.  It is being projected she will be inpatient for at least 5 weeks and nobody can be with her during this time.  When she is able to return home they feel she will be back home for approximately 6 weeks.  At this time she will either be going to the the University of Minnesota or the Mayo Clinic for a bone marrow transplant.  

The Doctors state that this is very treatable and the outlook is hopeful, although this will be a very long road for Babe, both physically and emotionally.  

Please send prayers, notes of love and encouragement, or consider donating to helping Babe, KICK CANCERS ASS!!

Her address is

St. Cloud Hospital 
Room N537
1406 6th Ave N
St. Cloud, MN 56303
c/o Babe Spychalla