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.
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