For those of you who might be interested (not just for Laura, but for whoever), here's the link to the National Bone Marrow Registry. (I'm still hoping to be the winner of the Laura Hall Kitchens Bone Marrow Donation Contest.)

http://www.marrow.org/

In other news, Lisa left this morning to head back to New York. Emily will be in Georgia until December 5th.

Laura and Emily are hanging out in Atlanta, eating chili cheese fries (blech!) and enjoying their time together. (By the way, Laura's the chili cheese fry girl, not Em.)

They'll head back to Leesburg tomorrow and Laura will receive the first of 10 rounds of chemo -- or until a bone marrow match is found - on an out-patient basis. As soon as they have a donor, the next phase will begin.

I just want to say that I love my family. So thankful for all the blessings in spite of a few difficulties.

Have a happy Saturday.

Ain't Nuthin' Simple!

Laura had an appointment at Emory this morning. They received TONS of information.

Here's what I know:

• She will start a totally different kind of chemo on Monday in Albany. That chemo will be for 10 days, once a month until they find a bone marrow donor. I'm not sure if it will be in-patient or out-patient.
• She will need to be in the best possible physical and emotional condition in order to receive the bone marrow. Same is true of the donor.
• This bone marrow transplant is the only way to get rid of the leukemia.
• The donor will need to be at Emory for the transplant and the transplant will take place right after the donation has been made.
• The doctor is very optimistic that they will find a donor.
• A week before the transplant, Laura will receive an intense round of chemo -- which will kill all of her immune system. She will remain in the hospital for 2-3 weeks after the transplant has taken place so that they can monitor her closely.
• Evidently, the period after the transplant can be very unpleasant as the bone marrows get used to each other. The donor marrow is the trouble-maker. (If I'm lucky enough to be the donor, I'm gonna have a "good talkin' to" to my marrow so that it will behave!)
• After the transplant and the 2-3 week period in the hospital, she will probably stay in Atlanta at our house for the month or so afterwards.
• She will be closely monitored for 2-3 years, but that doesn't mean she can't start livin' her regular life!
• Here's something interesting! The (doctor) son of Laura's friend, Ann Pritchard, will be sitting in with her doctor (Dr. Amelia Langston)... just kind of keeping in touch with what's goin' on with her.
• Dr. Langston compared this huge undertaking to mountain climbing... When you start out on your journey, the mountain looks so monstrous and it may seem impossible. But, the way you climb a mountain is one step at a time. And, that's how we're all gonna get through this journey, too.

This afternoon, Laura and the girls are going to go to the mountains with Mrs. Cannon for a few days. See some leaves. Eat some apples. Rest. ♥

Thanks for your continued prayers.

For those of you who might be having trouble posting a comment, please see October 13th entry for help.

An update from Lisa...

(Buford Cheering Station during the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure)

The good news is that all her counts are great! Her WBC is 3.3 and her temp is normal. This is a good indication that her body is tough and knows how to handle chemo. :)

The bad news is that the first round of chemo (Induction) didn't get all the leukemic cells which means she did not go into remission like they hoped. Because the Induction did not work, instead of Consolidation (which they were going to do--that was going to be the five rounds of chemo over the next 18 weeks), they are now going to do a Bone Marrow Transplant.

She has an appointment with Emory tomorrow to discuss the process, meet with her insurance agency, talk with a social worker, and meet the doctor. Tomorrow we will also learn what kind of new chemo they will use before the transplant. The likely scenario is that sometime next week she will start her second round of chemo (which will be a different kind of chemo than the first) and once they find her bone marrow match they will immediatley start the transplant. However, she will have a second round of chemo regardless of how quickly they find her match.

Right now we need to pray for a match and for as little discomfort as possible.

Below are two articles I've found helpful to understanding the process. The first is an article from the NY Times from 2008. I've found it to be pretty informative without going into so much detail that I can't understand a thing. The second is very informative and includes a lot of details.

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/bone-marrow-transplant/overview.html

http://cumc.columbia.edu/dept/medicine/bonemarrow/bmtinfo.html

While I still have access to a computer...

...here's the latest:

• Laura gets to go home for the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (but she'll need to go back on Monday) The rules are that she must wear her mask and a hat and she can't have visitors.
• She'll have five more rounds of chemo (which I think is called the consolidation phase) and each time she receives the chemo, she'll have to be in the hospital. As long as things go well, she can go home in between rounds.

I'm going in just a little while to Emory to have my blood drawn to see if I'm a bone marrow match. Mary has already done that and Robert will do it also. We're hoping that she won't have to have a transplant, but we're also hoping that if she does, one of us will be a match for her.

And, then later today, Clif and I will head to Lake Lanier so I can practice carrying the "My Sister" flag for the 3-Day. After that, hopefully a good night's sleep and then it's a whole lotta walkin' for us over the next few days!!

Thankful for the many blessings of this day. GoFightWin!!!

Trying to update on my phone so I don't know how it'll look...

Laura's WBC was 1.3(!) this morning. She also had a bone marrow biopsy...

Looks like she'll have 6 more treatments over the next 18 weeks. Not sure exactly how that looks re: time in the hospital, but all treatments will be in-patient.

I'm waiting for my plane to leave Seattle. Am hoping I'm ready to walk on Friday.

Love y'all!

Very quick update:

Laura was hoping that her WBC would be a 1 today, but it was 1.2!!

Other good news:

Emily has arrived and the three of them are having fun hangin' out. And, even more good news: Clif arrives tomorrow for a quick trip before he goes to Atlanta to walk with me in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. If you're in Atlanta, we would love to see you along the route if you're able to make it out.

Here are the cheering stations....

Friday, October 22
8:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
89 Main St.
Buford, GA 30518

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Suwanee Station
Station Center Blvd.
Suwanee, GA 30024

Saturday, October 23
9:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Oreck Vacuums Store and Plaza
5005 Peachtree Pkwy.
Norcross, GA 30092

11:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Duluth Monarch School
3057 Main St.
Duluth, GA 30096

Sunday, October 24
7:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Lowes
4950 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Chamblee, GA 30341

10:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Atlantic Station - along 17th St.
171 17th St.
Atlanta, GA 30363

And closing ceremonies will be at Turner Field at 5:30 p.m.

I hop on a plane way before the crack of dawn and head to Atlanta tomorrow. It will be difficult for me to post much while I'm away from my computer, but tune in next week for updates.

Love you all!!

GoFightWin!, WBC!!

Tobi being a spokesmodel for that lovely DVD player

Yesterday, Tobi surprised Laura and Lisa with a DVD player! "Dallas" looks and sounds better on a real tv. ☺ What a nice thing for Tobi to do!

Laura and Lisa are pretty much just sitting around talking, watching old episodes of Dallas, and reading. Laura continues to walk laps around the floor twice daily-in the morning after breakfast and then after supper.

Emily arrives today so there will be even MORE fun for the three of them!

Medically speaking: Her WBC (white blood count) is still low but she's hopeful that things are looking up. Day before yesterday her count was .6. Yesterday and today it's been .8. Although it seems she's a long way from the desired goal of 3, she's been told that once the cells start rebuilding, they multiply fast. GoFightWin!, white blood cells!!

We all continue to be touched by the support and prayers of so many. Thank you all.

For those of you who might be having trouble posting a comment, please see October 13th entry for help.