It's Official: An Allo-Transplant

I know most of you have read the rumblings on facebook or have spoken with me about this, but before I finish up my caregivers postings I wanted to assure you that yes, we are moving forward with an allogenic transplant for my Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).  We are 90% sure that we will be receiving this treatment and it will all happen (chemo, transplant, recovery) in Seattle, WA.

So here's what you need to know a little about the future and treatment:

a) The next time I hit a remission: hopefully on the SAHA between December and March, we will move forward with the transplant

b) This will happen At Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

c) This form of transplant is with a donors cells we will use my brother, Jacob's cells.  He is a perfect 10/10 HLA match. Some of you might think, wait? Didn't she already have a transplant? yes. I did, but not with a donor cells. I had them with my own cells which did not provide any cure.

d) Rich and I will travel to Seattle this month to research and figure out details of transplant for first steps, we will write more when we return, promise!

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For the time being though -- we are enjoying three weeks of zero hospitalizations :) (Goodness it feels good...) We are also hoping to spend a few days sight-seeing in Seattle (suggestions welcome!)

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So, what does this all mean? It means that due to the MDS, and the inability to receive harder chemotherapies, and being exempt from other clinical trials due to my two diagnosis now I've decided to look at the allo (donor stem cell) transplant as my option.  This treatment has a lot of risks, but could also potentially have a lot of benefits.

My game plan with my HL has always been to exhaust all chemotherapy options, every option before I head into a donor transplant since it does have a concerning mortality rate due to complications.  I've exhausted options for seven years now, and now is the time to move forward for the hope of a cure.

If nothing else, I will gain new bone marrow from my brother, rid myself of the MDS and one could even hope that we finally destroy this cancer.  There will be a lot of changes, movement, help needed, fundraising, fundraising, and more fundraising.

This treatment means I will move to Seattle, WA for three to six months and I will need caregivers with me for at least the first three months.  This will mean we will have to cover rent, finances, and quality of life needs between my home with Rich, my mothers' home, and whatever home we will have in Seattle.

We will be developing a webpage by the first week of July that you can access to determine where to donate, where fundraisers will be around the country.  Brainstorm if you'd like to create your own fundraiser in your hometown, it can be anything: a Team in Training Run, selling a product, a beef and brew, ect.  If you have an idea, email  my dearest friend Karen, who has stepped up as my Fundraising Coordinator at truebeautyfundraising@gmail.com

We are already planning two events in Doylestown, a small selling fundraiser in CT, and a possible fundraiser in DC.  We are excited to have this support behind us, but we need more -- we need you to make this treatment happen.  Details will be coming soon.

This is a scary and exciting time.  However, with great risk comes great reward.  A life without cancer -- I never would have thought.  And yet, it could be possible.

Here's to a new door opening and embracing it.
Love and light to all of you,

Bekah