In October 2017 I was hospitalized for extreme dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, bruising, and shortness of breath. As an active, healthy person, having these symptoms was worrisome. My husband took me to the emergency room, where they performed a series of tests. We waited for my results, and a nurse looked at me and asked if I realized how pale I looked, and neither my husband or I had even noticed.
At one point my blood pressure went down to 53/30 because my body was rapidly running out of blood. When the nurses realized this, they rushed me into medium care unit and requested an emergency blood transfusion blood transfusion: A procedure in which whole blood or one of its components is given to a person through an intravenous (IV) line into the bloodstream. A red blood cell transfusion or a platelet transfuson can help some patients with low blood counts. .
After the transfusions some color returned to my cheeks and I felt wonderful. I thought it was over, but it was only the beginning. When I got to the emergency room, my hemoglobin hemoglobin: A protein in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. was down to 3.2, (normal hemoglobin ranges from 12-14). My red blood cell red blood cell: The most numerous type of blood cell in healthy people. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte, RBC. and white blood cell white blood cell: Cells in the body that fight disease and infection by attacking and killing germs. There are several types of white blood cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Each type of cell fights a different kind of germ. Also called WBC, leukocyte. counts were at 1 - -the normal is from 4.2 to 5.4. My platelets were at 16,000 -- normal ranges from 150,000 to 450,000.
My hematologist hematologist: (hee-muh-TOL-uh-jist) A doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases and disorders of blood producing organs. /oncologist told me that I had a bone marrow biopsy bone marrow biopsy: A medical procedure to remove a small piece of solid bone marrow using a needle that goes into the marrow of the hip bone. The solid bone marrow is examined for cell abnormalities, the number of different cells and checked for scarring of the bone marrow. scheduled for the next day. I can tolerate pain, but the bone marrow biopsy was difficult. The reason it took so long was that there was hardly any bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. , in the site they choose to extract bone marrow sample from.
After being hospitalized for a few days, I was discharged, went home and rested as I waited for my biopsy results. During that time, I prayed for guidance and answers. What will I be getting out of this? How can I help others with my experience? That’s what truly inspired me to write this article.
My doctor called me with my results and to my surprise they were inconclusive, but it was confirmed that I did not have leukemia. I was relieved it wasn't leukemia, but I still had no idea what was wrong with me. My primary oncologist oncologist: (on-KAH-luh-jist) A doctor who specializes in the treatment and prevention of cancer. referred me to another hospital to perform another bone marrow biopsy. I was stressed and frustrated, but it was the only way I was going to find out what was wrong. I got through the second biopsy and that’s when I was officially diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… .
I was asked if I had a healthy sibling for a bone marrow transplant bone marrow transplant: A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is also called a stem cell transplant (SCT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).The procedure replaces unhealthy blood-forming stem cells with healthy ones and offers some patients the possibility of a cure. But for many patients, a BMT is not an option due… (BMT. Little did I know my 14-year-old brother Jose’s stem cells stem cells: Cells in the body that develop into other cells. There are two main sources of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos and are used in medical research. Adult stem cells in the body repair and maintain the organ or tissue in which they are found. Blood-forming (hemapoietic) stem… could potentially save my life and provide a permanent cure to my disease. Jose and I submitted our HLA HLA: See human leukocyte antigen. type kits to determine whether he would be a match. This process took two weeks. It was a Friday evening on December 15th when I had just finished getting a platelet transfusion platelet transfusion: A procedure in which platelets are given to a person through an intravenous (IV) line into the bloodstream. Platelets are more likely than red blood cells to cause an immune response, such as chills and fever. The use of platelets from one donor (apheresis) reduces the chance of reaction to… --- my doctor called to tell say my brother was a full match!
I was then transferred to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on January 25th, Texas, to be in the same state as my brother. I had to have yet another bone marrow biopsy -- my third biopsy in 3 months. My BMT on January 30th of 2018. I was inpatient for 22 days post-transplant, although it was very difficult time for me due to side effects from chemotherapy chemotherapy: (kee-moe-THER-uh-pee) The use of medicines that kill cells (cytotoxic agents). People with high-risk or intermediate-2 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may be given chemotherapy to kill bone marrow cells that have an abnormal size, shape, or look. Chemotherapy hurts healthy cells along with… . Once I was discharged from the hospital my counts started to move back closer to normal range. I was starting to feel good and I could finally do things a normal person could do. My follow up visits went from 3 times a week to once a week and now once every 3 months.
My labs have been very stable, I already went to my first concert and traveled another state. My mental and emotional health have taken the most time to heal but I've put it all in prayer and lately I've felt liberated from fear and anxiety. Last week was my first time not wearing a wig in public and I get complements from at people every day about my short hair which is truly empowering.
This experience has truly taught me to value life, to live every day like is my last and to never ever take anything for granted. Life is truly about surrounding yourself by people who care about you, enjoying the little things, and taking it one day at a time.