What can I say about this girl that hasn’t been said or thought before. She’s my partner, my best friend, my fishing buddy, MY caregiver, an amazing mother, and a girl that never really stops moving, whether at home or at work for over 40 years now.
That is until AML became a daily part of our lives back in 2020. Once you’ve looked that dragon in the eye, you’ll be fighting it forever. And this girl is a FIGHTER.
Back then when she was first diagnosed she spent over a month at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. Came home for Christmas, then first week of January 2021 we started making three 90 mile trips a week, every week, until July.
During all that she went into remission so we thought it was behind us. Asking anyone for help just didn’t cross our minds. Head down, into the wind, keep on going. That’s the kind of girl she is.That was then, and the last 2½ years it was like having a new lease on life.
Fast forward to January of this year (2024) and AML returned, with a VENGENCE. This time it’s more than twice as strong as it was before, and we made up to 6 trips a week from January to August.
The difference this time is she was able to receive a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).
We were admitted to Emory Winship on August 2, 2024 and stayed 4 full weeks. Watching her go through that is something I hope to never have to see her (or anyone) do again.
We’re SO blessed that we have an amazing facility like Emory Winship Cancer Institute within driving distance. God is good, and our faith is stronger now than it was before AML, that’s a fact.
Deb was able to survive the transplant and according to her team “She survived better than many do here on the ninth floor”, “So many have liver or kidney failure and you breezed through that” they said, which is why she only had to stay 4 weeks. We’re adjusting as best we can, average 1500+ miles a month going back and forth for 4 years now, but we’re in it now for the long haul.
This time however after the hospital stay she isn’t allowed to go home. With a BMT patient you MUST stay within 30 minutes of the hospital for over 3 months (100 days) after being released. She also must be monitored 24/7 and cannot be left alone more than an hour. Things that happen after transplant come on hard, fast, and can be deadly in a hurry.
With that, we found out just 3 days ago that we were able to secure a spot at Hope Lodge Atlanta (owned/operated by the American Cancer Society) with a small 1 bedroom suite where she can remain isolated, yet we are still 10 minutes from the hospital. The facility, and the people around you all have that one thing in common... C-A-N-C-E-R. But the thing is, you get a special kind of feeling. Sharing that common bond, learning one another’s stories, some first timers (like us), others are familiar faces that have been there multiple times.
Can’t say enough about how appreciative we are for a facility like this.
The bad part however is we’re not sure when we can go home. For now it’s some time in December. But this place, the people around you, (cancer patients and their caregivers) is designed to uplift and help patients when, and how, they never knew they needed.
The hard part is Deb can’t be anywhere near others at this point. Hope Lodge has a massive shared kitchen and prep area, but the best part is there is a smaller kitchen at the back where Deb can be and not worry about being around others. They really have thought of everything.
We’ve made it here, that’s the first step.