A few weeks ago, my son, Dan, asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him there was nothing that he could buy. I simply wanted to wake up on Christmas morning. That would be, for me, the best Christmas present. That would be my Christmas hope. That would be my Christmas dream.
I had previously committed to undergo a risky bone marrow transplant in early December which may have extended my life or may have caused my early demise. Only 30% of the patients with my type of disease survive the 3 or 4 weeks in the hospital and the subsequent 90 days of isolation. A good number of those who survive relapse within 12 months.
In preparation for the transplant, I had a tooth extracted which had an infection at the very top of the tooth. That infection, which remained unnoticed for about three years, had destroyed bone mass and surrounding tissue. As a precaution, I postponed the transplant until the tissue and the bone had significantly healed. If I had stayed on schedule, I would have had the Cord Blood transplant on Monday, Dec. 15th. I was told the following few days after transplant would have been critical - the possiblity that I could have met my Maker by mid December. That prospect of a premature death caused me quite a bit of anxiety, tension and stress.
On Saturday, Nov. 29th, I reconsidered my commitment to the transplant and decided to let Nature take its course.
Yesterday, I discussed my options with my new oncologist at the University of Chicago. I reaffirmed my recent change of heart to skip the life-threatening or life-prolonging procedure. I am now scheduled for another bone marrow biopsy on December 23rd to determine the status of my bone marrow disorder. Then on January 5th, I will start a clinical trial which may possibly help or hurt, but at least it doesn't cut my life short. I so much want to wake up on Christmas morning and on my 5th wedding aniversary on Dec. 27. That's my Christmas hope. That's my Christmas dream.
I had previously committed to undergo a risky bone marrow transplant in early December which may have extended my life or may have caused my early demise. Only 30% of the patients with my type of disease survive the 3 or 4 weeks in the hospital and the subsequent 90 days of isolation. A good number of those who survive relapse within 12 months.
In preparation for the transplant, I had a tooth extracted which had an infection at the very top of the tooth. That infection, which remained unnoticed for about three years, had destroyed bone mass and surrounding tissue. As a precaution, I postponed the transplant until the tissue and the bone had significantly healed. If I had stayed on schedule, I would have had the Cord Blood transplant on Monday, Dec. 15th. I was told the following few days after transplant would have been critical - the possiblity that I could have met my Maker by mid December. That prospect of a premature death caused me quite a bit of anxiety, tension and stress.
On Saturday, Nov. 29th, I reconsidered my commitment to the transplant and decided to let Nature take its course.
Yesterday, I discussed my options with my new oncologist at the University of Chicago. I reaffirmed my recent change of heart to skip the life-threatening or life-prolonging procedure. I am now scheduled for another bone marrow biopsy on December 23rd to determine the status of my bone marrow disorder. Then on January 5th, I will start a clinical trial which may possibly help or hurt, but at least it doesn't cut my life short. I so much want to wake up on Christmas morning and on my 5th wedding aniversary on Dec. 27. That's my Christmas hope. That's my Christmas dream.
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