Posted on 07/04/2003 12:08:14 PM PDT by muffaletaman
Our daughter, Lani Marie (age 11, birthday 10/4/91), was admitted yesterday to Texas Children's Hospital for a Bone Marrow Transplant.
Last August she was diagnosed with CML Leukemia. This is very rare in children - less than 100 pediatric cases occur each year in the U.S.
While the new genetic drug Gleevec has controlled her CML Leukemia, it is not a cure. The only chance for a cure is the transplant. Her oldest sister Jennifer was a perfect 6/6 match as a donor, and we have hopes ->Of Course<- that the procedure will be successful.
She will be in the hospital for 5 weeks or so. More details below...
WHILE LANI MARIE IS IN THE HOSPITAL this coming month, her mother Lani O. Koskie, will be staying in the hospital with her full time, to take care of her.
If you wouldn't mind writing Lani Marie (and/or my wife) a little note or sending a card of support and comfort, I would be very appreciative!
NOTE - due to conditions of sterility required on the BMT Unit floor, no flowers, food gifts should be sent.
If you don't know my daughter or wife personally - as some of you receiving this do not - just mention that you are aware of them through FreeRepublic.
The Address at the Hospital is:
LANI MARIE KOSKIE (or Lani O. Koskie)
c/o BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT UNIT - ROOM 39
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - 8WT
6621 FANNIN STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77030 U.S.A.
=== More details for those who are interested ===
Lani Marie was admitted yesterday 7/3/2003. She will have 4 days of chemotherapy, followed by 4 days of Total Body Irradiation twice a day, to kill all her existing bone marrow.
On Friday 7/11 she will receive the BMT infusion, which Jennifer will donate that day in a surgical procedure. Jennifer may be sore a couple of days, but other than that there should be no side-effects for her.
The following week to ten days Lani Marie will most likely be in the greatest degree of discomfort from the chemo and radiation, then her recovery will begin.
When a certain measure of her blood antibodies reaches a count of 500, she will be able to be released from the hospital but will still have to visit three times a week for close monitoring for probably a couple of months.
If everything continues OK, those visits will be decreased over the course of the next year little by little to twice a month and eventually monthly and then 1/4ly.
She will be completely vulnerable to infection until her new blood starts to form and her antibodies come back in her new blood. As part of this process her current blood type will switch from O+ to B+, which is her sisters (and mothers) blood type.
Also, after one year, she will have to redo all her childhood immunizations.
She will not be able to go to school this fall (no crowds, or sick kids with runny noses, or strangers allowed till she is healthy), so we will homeschool at least the first semester, if not this entire year possibly.
This is an anxious time for us as parents of course, but every single person at TCH has been wonderful. The head of the BMT unit, while having to inform us of the possible complications, also says that given the overall situation, the profile of her case and prospects look good for a full recovery.
Please, if you don't want to send a card to her or my wife, don't feel obligated in any way. Many of her aunts, uncles and cousins will be sending cards. This was just something extra I wanted to do to give her stay an added boost of the positive - and a card in the hand (which will be mounted on the walls and windows of her room I am sure) is much better than an email on a screen.
THANKS for your time in reading this. If there is anyone you would like to forward this to, feel free to do so.
Sincerely,
Earl T. Koskie Jr.
Muffaletaman and Family,
Your Daughters are...Precious!
We will be very honored to Pray for Your Family and Especially for Lani Marie.
Avinu Malkeinu...Our Father Our KING,
We humbly come before You throne of Grace, Mercy and Lovingkindness and lift up Your daughter: Lani Marie.
We ask in The NAME that is above ALL Names: Yeshua/Jesus The Messiah that You will Touch Lani Marie with You Healing Power.
Give to her Your Strength, Comfort and Shalom - Your Perfect and Abiding Peace.
Holy One of Israel, we ask that You will remove all fear and doubt, and give to Lani Marie Courage to endure this life-saving procedure.
May she know that it is Your Divine Hand that is upon her, and may she always sing Praises to Your Holy Name.
May Lani Marie's LIFE be a Testimony to Your Immeasurable Love and Faithfulness.
We also ask that You O LORD will direct and guide ALL of the Medical Staff that has been Entrusted with Lani Marie's care. Give Your Compassion, Wisdom and Grace to ALL who will be working with Lani Marie and the Family.
Send Your Holy Angels from Your Throne Room to surround Lani Marie to stand guard and protect during the darkness of night until she sees the bright morning light.
It is in the Holy and Precious NAME of Yeshua/Jesus The Messiah that we ask all of these Blessings.
Baruch HaShem - Bless The Name (of The LORD)!
Amen and Amen.
Thanks for the ping Rintense, God Bless you.
I only ask to help me decide what kind of cards to send.
I think you are blessed by having a donor.
A friend of mine needed a bone marrow transplant so I called the hospital to find out about being a possible donor. They said the odds of me matching a single other person unrelated to myself was astronomical and the only way they would check me was if I would sign up on a donor list.
I will pray for Lani Marie , you and your family.
Peace
God bless and keep you all.
We pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort Lani and her family and ease her suffering at this critical time.
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