Replies

I sent my very best wishes and prayers to you....I understand all too well, how difficult this is for all concerned...

I understand because our family went through the same thing in 1985...my fifteen year old son had been diagnosed with AML(specifically APL), in 1984....AML, in general and its subgroup APL is very, very rare...our son was intially treated at Madigan Army Medical Center, as we were in the military....but our oncologist was in constant contact, with Childrens Hospital up in Seattle...the docs in Seattle asked us, when our son was able, to be able to see our son, ,as they were so interested in his particular leukemia, and had not actually seen a case of APL in eight years....

After my son was initially treated and obtained a first remission, myself, my husband and our other son were tested to see if we were a match for a BMT...none of us were....it was devastating...

A year after obtaining a first remission, our son relapsed...it was then proposed that he get an autologous bone marrow transplant, which is where they take the patients own marrow out, just like they do with donors, that marrow treated and then returned to the patient...unfotunatley, ,when they took his marrow he had had a second relapse...

So they then proposed doing the allogeneic BMT, using me as a donor, even tho I was only a 4/6 match...both my husband and other son were only 3/6 matches...it was a dangerous and probably useless challenge to take on, but it was our only hope...

Unfortunately, before the procedure was begun, our son had a fatal cerebral hemorrhage, and died...

I tell you this, not to frighten you, as I am sure you are aware of all the risks of a BMT, but are are also fully aware of the great potential of this BMT to save your childs life...I tell you this, to let you know, that I am one parent, who understands all too well, the stress, ,and strain, and heartache, and shed tears that have become part of your family life...

While we were at Fred Hutchinson, we were treated so well, with nothing being spared to care for our child and for our family...we were there just a short time, so hopeful that a successful BMT could be done for our son...in our case it was just not to be...

But I surely will pray for you and your child and your whole family...

God bless you, and please keep us up to date with how things are going...