The University of Iowa has found a ‘perfect match’ for my bone marrow (stem cell) transplant. They are working toward admission on 3/29. This is good news; from the medical viewpoint this is my best chance for survival to two years and beyond. Here are answers to some of the questions posed to us:

What is a stem cell transplant and why do you need it?
The transplant transfers bone marrow stem cells from a healthy donor to a recipient whose body is unable to produce healthy blood cells. The transplant is intended to reduce the risk of a relapse of the cancer.

How do they find a donor?
People under the age of 45 can register at www.BeTheMatch.org to be a marrow donor. DNA is collected using a cotton swab sweep of the mouth and simple blood sample. The HLA tissue type is entered into the computer and made available to transplant centers around the world. Later, a blood sample is taken to do a tissue type match of ten markers (5 each for the donor and recipient). My donor is a 10/10 match.

What does the process involve for the donor?
The donor is given a medicine to increase the number of stem cells released from the bone marrow to the blood stream. In an outpatient procedure lasting 5-7 hours, they will have their blood withdrawn through an IV, processed through a machine to remove the stem cells, and then have their own blood returned to them through another IV.

What is the process for the recipient?
The recipient is admitted to the transplant center a week before the transplant. A regimen of high dose chemotherapy is given to destroy the recipient’s bone marrow and suppress the immune system. Then the donor’s stem cells are infused via IV.

How long do you have to be in the hospital?
The recipient stays in the hospital for 4-5 weeks or up to three months if serious complications arise.

What type of complications might there be?
The donor’s blood cells may attack the recipient’s body or the recipient’s cells may fight the grafted cells. Both problems are common and range from mild to serious even life threatening consequence. Infections are also a significant threat since the immune system is compromised.

Will you be cured after the transplant?
There is no real cure, but generally healthy recipients who survive the transplant have a good chance of living their full lifespan if they can make it to two years without relapse of the cancer.

Thanks for your prayers. We believe God is not done.