My Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT/SCT) story: Will you share yours?

Posted by Lori, Volunteer Mentor @loribmt, Feb 14, 2021

The past two years have been a storied journey of facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. Being in a high risk category for relapse for AML, a transplant was necessary. Simply put, it would provide a completely new immune system to fend off any remaining AML cells lurking about in my body, after my original factory installed version had become defective in recognizing them. My husband and I shared a collective sigh of relief with the news that my latest bone marrow biopsy, at 19 months post transplant, showed no AML or the mutation which caused it. My new immune system is working!
While celebrating the results with my husband and a pizza, it occurred to me how far I’ve come and how life has changed in the past two years since the onset of AML and the transplant. There have been some challenging transitions but none insurmountable. Of course, life as a genetically modified organism, with two sets of DNA and a new blood type, can have its turf wars with a few GvHD issues, adaptations to medications and such. But I’m incredibly happy to have a second chance with this generous gift of life from an anonymous donor, and through the medical expertise of my amazing BMT-team at Mayo-Rochester. Hopefully I can meet my donor someday to thank him in person. I did send him a card right after the transplant giving him my “undying” gratitude!
We’ve all been given a gift of life. I’d love to hear your story. Lori

What diagnosis brought you to a BMT?

How has it impacted your life and that of your caregiver?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & CAR-T Cell Therapy Support Group.

mkt24 | @mkt24 | Jun 16 5:00pm

Too old to have transplant. No stem cell either😔

katgob | @katgob | Jun 18 8:57pm

Lori and all,
I believe most transplant hospitals have a team that works together. I received a call from a nurse in that department who was checking on me!! She saw i was doing well and asked by a out the Tacro. What was I taking now and when was it ending. She also covered the other drug i was talking day 5-100. Itt is the anti-rejection drug that was paired with the Tacro. Well, she said in the past the drug i take from 5-100 days used to only be given when you had GVHD symptoms. Sometime ago they started giving it for most of the 100- day period. I am going to ask my RN if she knows how long COH has one this.
I asked the transplant nurse about GVHD. I said I have not had any symptoms and if I do not, does that mean I could get them later? She said no, some people never get them! You might be one who does not. On my 100th day after transplant, July 18th, I will have my BMB. We will see how much of my donor is part of me.
This journey if nothing else is a daily thing. My blood work stayed about the same. More water is helping my kidneys!! Seems water is good for all of us with these transplants. Flush out the meds and keep the kidneys from over working.