I met with my new team for the allogeneic stem cell transplant. That’s a transplant with stem cells from a donor. As expected at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance or SCCA, the physician and the rest of the team are top professionals in their field. The doctor spent over an hour explaining the process of the transplant. It’s complicated and somewhat dangerous but definitely my best option.
It’s a game of numbers. 20% of people enjoy long term remission, 15% have severe complications and everyone else falls into the middle of more or less complications following the transplant. It’s a question of how strongly my own stem cells will resist the new cells from a donor. Until the transplant has taken place, nobody will know how I will accept the new cells.
The good news is my potential donors are perfect matches so the odds of resisting the new cells is reduced. My team is still searching for the best of the potential donors. The date of the transplant used to be set for October 13. Now, a new date will be set after a donor is confirmed.
My plan is to be in the upper 20% and get rid of this awful disease for good. I’ve been ahead of the curve for all of my treatments so far. That’s probably because of the dozens of friends who are sending me their positive thoughts and prayers. Please know that I deeply appreciate the support from so many good friends and family.
Sending healing thoughts EVERY day and I will amp it up for this next transplant. MUCH love to you Mike!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mike! I haven't checked in for a while.... What a journey you've had! They say that attitude is everything, and with the positive and humorous way you are dealing with all of this, your attitude will take you far. Best of luck with this second transplant. Love, Robin
ReplyDeleteTotally solid plan you have there, I'm planning on you placing in the top 20% as well. Thinking of you often.
ReplyDeleteMike, politicians figure that if one person is writing to them, there are 10 other people, or is it 100, in their constituency that feel the same. I'm sure you have many more people praying for and thinking about you then you will ever know. I believe you'll be in that 20%, you've been in the top 5% so far with results. It is unbelievable that you have to go through this, but you will come out on the other side, Healing energy is real and all around us.
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