Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Bad News

Hello Everyone, This is Bri's Mom.

It has been a long while since I posted. However, I am reaching out in a time of need with a request for prayer. Brianne was really doing well and preparing for her bone marrow transplant set for April 9th. She has been undergoing all the preparation, tests and procedures. Last week we had a very rough day with the radiologist upon hearing the finality of her not ever being able to conceive a child due to the chemo and radiation that is coming. We grieved and have been practicing acceptance in the light of what we are hoping for.... a cure. We hold on to Hope.Yesterday, Bri had a bone marrow biopsy and the doctor expressed some concerns they discovered. He called us today with the results/confirmation....The cancer is back....... We were told she will not be able to proceed with transplant on the 9th, she has to undergo another type of treatment and will be admitted to Emory tomorrow. In asking the doctor what happened he explained with her chromosome abnormality, the prognosis has always been poor, no cure with chemo alone, therefore transplant is the only possible cure. They just could not predict the very fast rate of return while we were preparing for transplant. Obviously, it is a very fast replicating cancer. The new treatment plan is intensive 5 day chemotherapy in-patient with a different type of chemo and very close monitoring, then allowing her body systems to recover and gain strength. As soon as she is cleared (which could be a matter of several weeks) then move to transplant as soon as possible. The requirements for transplant are: Must be in remission and system (organs) ready (recovered from effects of chemo). We are all shocked as things had been going so smoothly and this was the last thing we expected. Fear has gripped me and is wreaking a little havoc in my thoughts. We had been told how serious her diagnosis was, the prognosis and treatment expectations but everything was going so well and I just felt like everything was going to be okay. I do believe that it will be okay but as I said I have been jolted into the reality of the relentless disease of cancer.
All this being said, I am asking for your prayers, I thank you in advance for them. Again, I thank you for all your support and prayers. By the way, even though it is hard at times to hold on to Hope, I know I can rest in the assurance that Hope holds on to us, He always has and He always will. Each of you are a part of that same Hope and I thank you for being there for us. Bless You all. Will share more later.