Our Blood Cancer Journey

2021 has been one heck of a year hasn't it? 

The world, people's experiences, it's unparalleled. 

This year has been a roller coaster for my family. It started in August of 2020, I was going on three months pregnant. My blood work for routine checks was repeatedly being flagged. Something was wrong, but no one could figure out why. I was placed with a team including my GP, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, and a hematologist who monitored me during the duration of my pregnancy. 

I was induced at 38.5 weeks to do in depth testing, but I became increasingly ill as soon as my baby was born. Fevers of 105+, chills, sweats, shakes, exhaustion. It was a whirlwind of confusion for my family and I. Mommy couldn't function, absolutely terrifying. 

My GP called while I was battling a fever of 104.9 and I was admitted immediately - at this point my baby was two weeks old. I spent 14 days in hospital on antibiotics, did two bone marrow biopsies, and waited. 

I was sent home afebrile and waited for a call that would hold my answers. 

Those took two days, my bone marrow was "suspicious" and I'd have to go in and have another one done for confirmation. 

March 18th, 2021. That call, "I'm sorry to tell you but you have cancer, "undifferentiated leukemia." 

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They flew me to VGJ to await the specifics and then to begin chemotherapy. 

Acute myeloid leukemia

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Since this day, the beginning of my cancer journey I have had to live in Vancouver 

Day 198, 75 days in the hospital. 

The hardest part has been being away from my children, my loved ones and my home. 

With Covid 19 hospitals weren't allowing visiting as they once had, and I had never been away from my children, let alone my three week old baby. 

We caught Covid-19, completed three rounds of chemotherapy, had an unrelated stem cell transplant, and are going through the course of treatment involved in that. I began to get some signs of GVHD around day 60 post transplant, it is tenacious though it's trying to stick with me. 

(My doctor here says, hopefully it's fighting the leukemia for me just as tenaciously) 

Next week I begin another course of treatment,

Photopheresis, or extracorporeal photoimmune therapy, is a procedure that treats graft versus host disease (GVHD, a disease caused when donated stem cell graft attacks normal tissue).

During photopheresis, some of your blood is taken from your vein. Your white blood cells are then separated from the other cells in your blood. Your white blood cells are treated with a medication called methoxsalen, exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, and then put back in your vein, along with your other blood cells. These treated cells help your immune system fight GVHD. 

 ☀️SUNSHINE TREATMENT☀️

I'm now on day 94 post transplant, on Tuesday I get my next bone marrow biopsy to determine where I am in the remission process, that would be 5% blast cells or less. ️

I'm not always okay, this year weighs heavily on my heart and my mind, not getting breaks or moments to understand it or process. "I need a break from the breaks before my poor heart shatters, I think I'll just hang for a while in between disasters."

May the world understand that healing and grief are like an ocean; "it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” 

– Vicki Harrison

One day she's healing, the next day she's breaking again. Both days, she ain't giving up though.

I would like to thank everyone who has sent love, and support, emotionally, financially, and everything in between. (As well as my sister for starting this, myself and Charles are trying to be active here in between everything)

Needing my kids with me for my health, and having to continue living five hours from home has my spouse off work, and I am currently in no position. We are "kicking leukemias butt to space," as my four year old says. That being said, everything helps getting to and from appointments, medications, the long recovery process even after going home, baby needs, kids needs. We are deeply appreciative and more grateful than words. 

Please feel free to check my Facebook profile, I journal there ❤️ crazy adventure.