I have multiple myeloma. An incurable cancer. My oncologist used the Mayo protocol for treating my cancer until my body had rejected every chemo drug available. I had instinctively know that my life was …ending, but my husband was in total disbelief when my oncologist made the announcement that there was no more he could do. Even though I had been a patient since my cancer was in the infancy stages, stem cell/bone marrow transplants were never an option. My oncologist had always told me that if I wanted to be referred to another doctor just say the word. I pulled that card out and made my request. I was ultimately referred to Northwestern University Hospital in downtown Chicago and specifically to a Dr Mehta. I was surprised to be able to get an appointment in about two weeks from my request. It was during my initial visit that I was told not only was I a candidate for a transplant, but he intended to use my stem cells! When I returned the next month my procedure was scheduled. I had my first transplant just prior to Thanksgiving 2014. I breezed through it and within two weeks I returned home. I was incredibly weak, but gave thanks for a chance to continue living. The doctor was encouraging when I saw him next, but by January he dropped a bomb: I needed to have another transplant ASAP in order to kill the remaining cancer cells. I was devastated and knew my body had not recovered enough from the initial procedure. It was with great trepidation that I entered the hospital in March of 2015. I truly believed I would never go home again. My transplant, or new birthday, was on St Patrick’s Day. The transplant process itself is not particularly difficult, but your body’s reaction to the high powered chemo given prior can be. These drugs basically killed me as my bone marrow was destroyed and then afterwards I would be given nutrients to rebuild my system. The process is miraculous! I thought I was progressing nicely as I went to sleep on day two or three after the transplant, but then my world turned sideways! When I next woke up I had something threaded down my nose and IV trees surrounded my bed. I didn’t understand what had happened and learned I had been “sleeping” for several days. I was only awake for a few minutes and then slumbered once more. The next time I awakened I discovered that I had no control over my bodily functions . I was entirely too weak to be overly humiliated by this and continued to drift in and out of consciousness for at least a week. I had a wonderful medical team helping me through the next weeks. Yes, I said WEEKS. This hospitalization lasted for two months. My family lived four hours away and my husband was entering his busy season as a farmer, so most of my days passed in solitude. He came once or twice a week for 24-36 hours and then needed to return to our home in West Central Illinois. My progress was painstakingly slow. I had zero strength and moving my body in any way was difficult. It was decided that I would need to go to a special rehab facility once I was released and it took quite some time arranging this. I was finally released to a hospital closer to my home that specialized in the treatment I needed. I had been steadily rehabilitating myself, however. As I lay in bed I flexed my muscles in ways that were strengthening them. I learned to dress myself, sit on the side of the bed, and walk in my room using a walker . I progressed rapidly once in the next program and immediately realized how blessed I was. The other patients in my section of the hospital were suffering from much worse circumstances. I requested to be released after less than a week because I had made enough progress to complete my recovery at home. It was abundantly clear that patients with more serious illnesses needed that bed more than I did. Once home my recovery was slow but steady. Food nauseated me and I ate a steady diet of mashed potatoes and Sierra Mist for at least two months. I had lost over sixty pounds since my transplant but I was far too weak to shop for clothing that fit plus I was restricted from being in public places. I had home health care physical therapy and continued to made steady progress. I did have to resume chemotherapy in order to eradicate the remainder of the cancer in my body but have not had a treatment since January of 2019.
So, here I am! Alive eleven years after my diagnosis with a cancer that typically takes one’s life within five years of diagnosis! Do I continue to bear effects from this treatment? Yes. Of course. I have never been able to regain the strength and stamina I possessed prior to the transplants. I now have to admit that I am in the ELDERLY stage of my life and walk with a walker. But what a BLESSING it is to have been allowed to live at all!
Would I recommend a stem cell transplant to others with this disease? Of course! If your doctor believes you are hearty enough to withstand the process I’d say GO FOR IT!
I am now too old to repeat this process if my cancer resurfaced, but I would definitely go through chemo again.
To those considering a transplant I cannot stress enough that I believe my spiritual connections helped me greatly. I had friends, neighbors, former students and their friends and families, and church prayer chains lifting me in prayer every step of the way.