Two years ago in August the cancer came back aggressively after finishing a treatment in June. I had a new procedure, Car-t, that is still very experimental. There weren’t many options for treatment left for me. I am happy to report that the cancer is once again in remission. The fact that I am still here is a miracle. The disease reoccurred in my bone marrow with 80-90% of the bone marrow being cancer cells three times. The Chemo, cancer, and conditioning treatment for Auto Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) and Car-t pretty much destroyed my bone marrow. And it hasn’t recovered.

I am dependent on transfusions of platelets and red blood cells just to live and getting IV’s for my immune system twice a month.  I have tried several medications, but none have worked. At MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston I was evaluated for a donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) transplant. After reviewing all the tests, my only medical option is donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) (or bone marrow) transplant. It is a very risky procedure with potential side effects that are not good. There is at least a  25% chance of not making it through the first 100 days. But the way my body is going, that is the safer option. The doctor said the procedure has about an 80% chance of working, which quite frankly are some of the best odds I have had through this journey.

This is going to be a very long and complicated process. I and my daughters need your prayers and support. Right now, MD Anderson cancer center is working to find an adequate donor. My local doctors are working to keep me alive and infection free until that happens. I am told this process can take 3 to 6 months or longer just to find a donor. Today my doctor, Dr. Champlain called and said that they had gotten my tests back and met as a team (in the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) Transplant Department) and that there is no sign of the cancer or MDS and what is going on is technically called aplastic anemia. (This is good because the chemo prep for the procedure is less than if there was a cancer process going on even in a minimal level.)  My bone marrow is not producing adequate red, white or platelet cells. He said I have several unique alleles (and said there is nothing wrong with that) and that it is unlikely that I would find an adequate donor on the registry so that my best chance is if one of my blood daughters qualifies  as a donor. Three are possibilities. They are tested and we are waiting for the results. It is very overwhelming right now.

Prayer Requests:*For health and safety for me and my daughters now and through this whole process. It is very stressful.

* Pray that treatments will keep working and as always, pray for divine healing.

*Praise that the financial clearance with insurance has been met.  I have a long checklist of things to do, local doctor appointments, financial clearance, a lot. Pray for my body and mind to be able to manage.

*Pray for Caregivers. I will need caregivers to be with me in Texas for about 4 and a half months. Pray that God provides people who are willing to come spend 2-4 weeks with me during this time. If you can do less but are willing to come to Texas let me know and we will see what can work. They just want to make sure to keep my exposure to germs and complications minimal. The best is for one person to be the caregiver for the whole time but that isn’t possible for me. Their second choice is for a team of people to take a month or 2 weeks at a time. I was a little panicky but talked with the nurse and the social workers. I will be inpatient for a month. They said that they can manage that without a full-time caregiver, although they prefer to have someone there because it is a better prognosis. They said just be sure to bring 30 pairs of underwear because they don’t do laundry! (lol) I will also need people to help after I return to Spokane, but not so intensely. If I cannot find people to be caregivers during the time I am in Houston I will have to fundraise extra for hired caregivers, which is very expensive. 

* Pray for fundraising efforts for the part of this process that is not covered by insurance. This includes transportation for me and caregivers, outpatient housing and utilities, uncovered medical and deductibles, etc., local transportation, and paid caregivers for any holes or for emergency situations that might arise. Because housing costs and airfare have gone up so much, I estimate I will need to have about $47,900.Call or email me if you have any questions.

*God has given me so many unique opportunities to minister and share medical knowledge through this and to talk to others about Faith through this. Pray for the Lord to continue to help people heal spiritually and physically and that more will come to know Jesus through this.

Thank you all for being part of my miracle. My original prognosis was 3-5years with treatment. The 28th of this month I will be 9 years post diagnosis. There is so many wonderful things that have happened in those 9 years and you have all been part of that.-Muriel