2/18/10 Thursday
Teri is officially classified as neutropenic and started on a neutropenic diet – no raw foods or fresh vegetables (salad) or fruit (other than thick skinned bananas and oranges).
She continues to do Tai Chi Chuan and walk in the morning before breakfast and then sits down to read her emails to connect with everyone. She tries to keep out of bed except for sleeping and resting.
More e-mail, cards, balloons, chocolate, cooked food, fruit, pillowcases, pajamas, ipod nano arrived today from family and friends both local and around the world. It’s like Christmas. We are imagining all the positive energy flowing in Teri’s direction.
Dr. H. came in to discuss the Teri’s course. She is due for two more bone marrows to determine the short-term progress and completeness of remission respectively. He expects to get her into remission but the key is how to maintain it. That is where the finesse comes in. How quickly remission is achieved, her chromosomal markers, and age all affect the consolidation. Her markers were finalized today. They reveal a translocation (piece of DNA transposed) from chromosome 11 to 20 that is rare but probably not good. She doesn’t have other good or bad markers. But her age > 55 is not helpful. In sum, Dr. H. recommended bone marrow transplant so-called BMT!
Obviously a bone marrow transplant means that Teri needs a perfect match. We know that there is a good chance with one of her four full siblings each of whom has gratefully consented to serve as a donor. Their blood is being screened. Given that there are few Asian Americans in the bone marrow registry, I’m wondering if we can galvanize Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) members to sign up for Teri (and others). We are also asking all of her nieces and nephews to register as well.
Please continue your prayers and thoughts.
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