Difficult Facts to Hear

Mom's body continues the fight against her AML. Yesterday, Mom met with her Oncologist. Mom, Poppie and I had a heart to heart with her Oncologist regarding Mom's present and future status.

As you know, Mom has been responding better than expected with each Chemo treatment. Mom continues to pleasantly surprise the Oncology Team with how strong she has rebounded from each treatment. Her Oncologist stated that Mom is responding "as a young person not as a Senior." Mom's numbers have risen at a normal rate, her body has developed its own defenses within the expected time frame and the blood tests have shown Mom Leukemic blasts are under the 5% range. This means Mom is in the closest "remission" possible for her AML. This put a big smile on Mom's face and Poppies.

We then began to discuss what follows after this 3rd Chemo Induction which will occur sometime in April. The Oncologist expressed, Mom, then will receive her 4th and last Chemo Induction sometime in May or early June. After the 4th Chemo Induction, Mom will have her Hickman removed from her chest.

The 4th Chemo Induction will conclude the Chemo treatments for Mom's disease intervention. If she is able to stay under the 5% blasts she is considered in a remission for AML. Unfortunately, there is a small percentage of Leukemic cells that the Doctors are not able to detect. There will always be some Leukemic cells present. Yes, this is the difficult news. Mom and Poppie thought she would eventually be at 0% with no Leukemic cells left in her body. The fear, anxiousness and powerlessness engulfed Mom's face as well as Poppies when hearing this news. The unknown to when the AML may return is extremely frightening. It may come back quietly or in full vengeance.

Yes, I have spent the past 24 hours discussing this with Mom and Poppie. Through our conversations I hope to assist them to be able to digest the reality of Mom's disease. I shared this news with Kimmy, Brian, Reece, Mike and Cindy. I continue to speak with Mom and Poppie on the importance and ways to begin to embrace "what is" and ways to welcome everyday a feel good experience and find pleasure in creating new fond memories. Our goal as a family is to plan some outings, a trip back to San Diego, and to plan another cruise. After all, Life is to be fully experienced and enjoyed when given the slightest opportunity.

Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. It has and DOES mean so much.

Hugs and sleep well,
Karen