Since 1995 JoAnn has battled Myelofibrosis, a rare and progressive chronic blood disorder. While you never fully recover, JoAnn and I have spent the past 16 years continuing to live our lives, raising our children and trying to forget "the cloud hanging over our heads."

As many of you know JoAnn had her Bone Marrow Transplant in June 2010 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her initial hospital stay was four weeks as well as three additional post-transplant hospital admissions. The initial results of the first Transplant appeared positive. However, testing revealed a steady decline in her donor's blood provided through the Bone Marroe Transplant.

Faced with the choice of being anemic and living with severe pain she decided to have a second Bone Marrow Transplant. Our research indicated that the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, who performed the first Bone Marrow Transplant as well as having the best survival rate in the country was the best choice for JoAnn.

Bob and JoAnn arrived in Seattle on August 24. During the two-week period of pre-transpalnt testing JoAnn caught a virus that required a six week postponment to the start of her hospital stay  postponed her for her Bone Marrow Transplant by six weeks.

The transplant was very difficult; you would meet patients and caregivers and suddenly they were gone. During the time JoAnn was in the hospital we met many courageous people fighting for their lives but always taking the time to ask how JoAnn was doing. The chemotherapy caused mucositis, the painful ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract that was so painful she could not eat solid food or swallow a pill. In addition to the mucositis JoAnn had  an extreme case of over-powering nausea that occured at throughout her hospital stay. 

Approximately three weeks after being admitted JoAnn suddenly said "Bob, I'm drowning". The nurses and doctors quickly realized that her chest and lungs were filled with a high volume of excees fluids. Cardiologists, Upper GI, Pulmonary and Hemotology specialists rushed to JoAnn's aid. She was transgferred to ICU where she spent over a week. It took four days to get rid of all of the excess fluid; we learned the next day she had experienced "heart failure" that we were told can take up to six months for her heart to (hopefullu) heal; JoAnn continued to keep fighting; within ten days her heart was functioning within normal range.

JoAnn was discharged from the University of Washington (part of the SCCA - the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) on December 21. During the week of December 26 we will meet with her Transplant Team to review the results of her Chimerism and Bone Marrow Aspiration which will indicate if the Bone Marrow Transplant was successful or not.