Susan Schmidt Glenna

Hi my name is Tania Rackow I am raising money for my friend Susan Schmidt. Here is her story.

Our family has been reeling from a loved ones cancer diagnosis since February. Everything changed, immediately.

Friday, I was going to the hospital to visit them.

I had not been feeling well since Easter, about 6 days, and decided if I wasn’t better by Friday, I’d go in since I was already going to the hospital. They deemed my symptoms ER worthy so….

Blood tests were run. A half an hour later, my ER doctor came back in followed by a hematologist AND an oncologist.

That’s never good.

And they began to explain my diagnosis.

They wasted NO time, getting me admitted to the hospital within a couple hours. I was immediately started on oral chemo and had an “emergency” bone marrow biopsy. (No time for sedation, so I was awake the whole time, 30 minutes. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy)

Treatment continued in addition to a necessary blood transfusion Saturday (bless you, Donor)

Sunday the team came in and said I was responding well to chemo, and the transfusion helped get my blood count into much safer levels—- for now.

So I was allowed to come home yesterday and take my treatment there.

When my detailed bone marrow studies come back in 2 weeks, I’ll be going back to the hospital for targeted chemotherapy and blood transfusions.

And that will be a MONTH inpatient.

There’s no way to know if I’ll need a bone marrow transplant until they see how I respond. If so, that will be an additional 6 weeks in Madison.

I’ve told a few people and decided it was time to explain things to everyone, in one fell swoop.

The thought of being away from my children that long, is something I really can’t bear to think about. I still can’t wrap my mind around it.

Luanne and Rogie are already stepping up to take on important responsibilities that they are capable of.

My thanks to offers to help in any way.

So, this combined with my loved one also battling cancer doesn’t even seem real. Or even possible. But it is. And that’s what’s on our plate now and yet to come.

Prayers for our family accepted.

Update** She is currently hospitalized undergoing chemotherapy and blood transfusions. After the month of May she will have to go to Madison for a bone marrow transplant. She is a single mother with 2 beautiful kids. Expenses are piling up and she could really use some help.