Melanie was diagnosed last October with Chronic Myelomonocystic Leukemia. Within a few weeks of diagnosis, the disease attacked her body sending her to the hospital for seven weeks. Melanie doesn’t remember much about that time as she was sedated and intubated for part of that time. Only glimpses of her memory are there of the first few weeks. Her oncologist told her that she probably didn’t want to remember that time.

Those seven weeks took quite a toll on her body physically, mentally and emotionally. Unable to stand on her own because of muscle deterioration, it took a few months for her to get ready for a bone marrow transplant. This was Melanie’s only chance at long term survival. She knew she had to go through the transplant for her family no matter how difficult. Her boys are now teenagers and have been very helpful.

Her oncologists said this transplant would be the hardest thing she would ever go through, and that proved to be true. The transplant process was another four week hospital stay. Once again, she was left weak and mostly unable to eat after the four weeks.

The recovery process so far has been difficult. She contracted GVHD, Graft vs Host Disease. That sent her back in the hospital for a few days, and was not any fun!

Today is day 88 after the transplant. Some days are good and some not, but Melanie is moving toward day 100, the critical time frame for a Bone Marrow transplant. The full recovery time is one year so she’ll still need to be really careful, but she looks forward to finally being able to go out with her family and to being healthy again.

Donations will be used for medical debt. Medical bills are starting to pile up now, but she will get through this too. She appreciates any donation as that will ease the burden of debt on the family during this time of healing.

Far from done with doctor appointments, and there could even be a recurrence of Leukemia, but Melanie believes God is in control even if that does happen.

Thanks again for any help you can give!