Update for the week of 1/15: 

Thank you for those of you who are following my journey navigating the ins and outs of life with aplastic anemia. This week was eventful with many of my treatment plans solidified.

Currently, I have blood levels checked twice weekly at Fred Hutch, as both my fertility team and hematology team are working together to ensure my levels remain above specific  thresholds.

My first check on Monday was simple; my levels were stable and I did not need a transfusion. My follow up on Thursday yielded results that required me to receive 2 bags of platelets. This did not come as much of a surprise to me as I was experiencing headaches, petechiae, mucosal bleeding, and bruising even easier than normal.

My fertility appointment was on Tuesday and I received the medical go ahead to begin my treatments (daily to twice daily injections). 

Friday, I had another ultrasound to confirm that I was in the right place in my cycle to begin the fertility treatment and was then given my personalized calendar of when and which meds to take. For now I am scheduled for my egg retrieval procedure 1/30! If all goes well, the fertility preservation part of my path will be behind me after that procedure. 

The biggest update for the week is that the transplant team at Fred Hutch called and informed me that there are no suitable matches on the worldwide database for me. This means the best option is to move forward and have one of my sisters be my donor even though both my sisters are only half-matched to me. 

The science community has more recently been researching haplo-sibling transplants (haplo meaning half-matched) and are finding almost as much success as full-match sibling transplants. 

I feel hopeful that this is the best option for me and that my body will take my siblings cells better than they would an unrelated donor. Both of my sisters are beautiful souls, and at the time of my diagnosis both stepped up right away, sharing with me they would do whatever it took to save my life. I was told by the transplant coordinator that the decision of which sister was entirely up to my sisters and I. After discussing the facts and some minor differences to consider, we all agreed that my younger sister Kira would be the best fit to be my donor. So with that being said I now have tentative dates: 

Start date with the transplant team: 2/14

Hospital Admission date: 3/1

Transplant date: 3/12

The plan is that Kira will begin her work ups the same day as I begin mine on February 14th. And her donation day would be March 11th!

Thank you to everyone supporting me and checking in on me. The support of my village reminds me of how beautiful life is and how grateful I am to be here with all of you wonderful people.