Just the Facts

Just a few fill ins for everyone. The Dr. called Brianne Thursday evening with the treatment teams recommendation. She begins the new treatment protocol this Monday at the hospital, Emory, and will be inpatient for a week depending on healthy she remains. The change in treatment protocol is due to a 1% level of leukemic cells remaining in her bone marrow. Although 1% sounds good, it is relative due to many other factors, most importantly it is not where she should or had expected for her to be at this point due to the type of previous aggressive treatment. The main factor that must be considered and is directing treatment has to do with her chromosome 11 abnormality which indicates her being at high risk for the leukemia replicating and returning. Therefore, the doctor/team says it is in her best interest to begin preparation for bone marrow transplant. This is a very lengthy and involved treatment and will involve several months preparing. We do not have details at this time and have many more questions than we have information to share. As we find out more during the weeks to come we will provide more information. We know we will have more frequent hospital stays and outpatient travelling through the weeks ahead. Again, will know more later and share what we know.

What we do know. Fact #1 "Brianne is His workmanship created for good things in Christ" Fact#2 the chromosome 11 abnormality is no surprise to the Creator and Redeemer and Healer of ALL things. (the pun very much intended) Fact#3 "Thus says the Lord who created you who formed you: Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I-AM the Lord your God…You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you… Be not afraid, for I am with you… Isaiah 43

I have found comfort in many scriptures but ran across this truth yesterday and was brought again to a place of peace within. "Not grace to bar what is not bliss, Nor flight from all distress, but this, The grace that orders our trouble and pain and then in the darkness is there to sustain. Grace is secure. And no failure or suffering or struggle, darkness or trouble can keep us from God's secure grace. It remains. It endures. And by grace we are kept. By grace, and grace alone... (J. Piper)

Thank You seems such an inadequate word to convey our appreciation for the love and prayers shown to us but please know how grateful and thankful we are for all of you being a part of our lives.

With Sincere Thanks, Brenda and the Indians

Certain

I'm sure now. I'm sure that I don't understand why God allows somethings to happen. I am sure that God will sustain me through this and through the rest of my life. I am sure that there is a reason for this battle. I got the call from the doctor. I will have to return to Emory for another stay in the hospital. This time will only be for 5-7 days (depending on my cell counts). The doctors have been running tests and doing studies and have found an abnormality in my 11th chromosome which puts me in a high risk bracket for my type of leukemia. Translation: that even if the chemo knocks out the cancer this time around (which it didn't do with this last treatment protocol) the chances of the leukemia returning are at a much higher percentile. I will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant. On Monday afternoon I will return to Emory in Atlanta for a short stay (hopefully) to begin a new chemo treatment regimen. I will be spending the majority of those days hooked up to an IV receiving continual chemo medications. I'm NOT looking forward to this. As I will not be at the hospital for long I shouldn't receive mail there. My Macon address is still the primary. I will post my bedside number when I get it, but ask for no calls before 9am and after 8 pm. With this bout of chemo, I am going in not as strong as the last time, so I am anticipating some illness. This treatment will be much harder than the last as it is much stronger. So I am asking for continued prayers of strength and wellness. After I am released I will be coming back to Macon and then the doctors anticipate that I will only have to return to Emory twice a week for my out-patient treatment. This out-patient treatment will be done in two cycles, an A-cycle and a B-cycle for 21 days each. This will be preparing my body for the transplant. Please pray for possible donors, matches, and for God's will to be done, shown, and understood in this situation. Thanks so much for everything. I love you all. And miss you all. Please feel free to email me at any time.

Uncertain

Well, I went to see the doctor Tuesday. And I still don't have any more answers today than I had last week. We are unsure of what the next move in my treatment will be. The doctors have said that I am still showing active leukemia cells in my body and with that in mind, I am going to have to come off of this particular study and protocol for treatment. As it is not in my best interest to continue with just chemo, they are saying that I most likely will be looking at a bone marrow transplant. I'm not excited about this possibility. But as I stated earlier, we are still really unsure of what the next move is since we are waiting back on some more test results. We should be getting those answers today... So please keep praying. I've been feeling very lost and uncertain about where God is taking me and how all of this is going to work out. Physically, I really think the medicines are catching up with me. I'm very very tired often and in some pain, but I press on. I often don't really feel like myself, just kind of lost and confused and discombobulated. When we hear from the doctors there will be a full report and what the next move will be. Many of you have asked about being tested to see if you are a possible match to be a donor. I don't know how you get tested, but I am going to find out. And will post those answers here as soon as I know. Thanks to all of you and I love you and miss you.

Tuesday is the day

This weekend has been so full. My entire family has been here all weekend. Both brothers, the grandmother, the Tyler, the mother, the sister-in-law, the step-dad, and the sicky. Full house. It has been wonderful. It has also been stressful. I went to Atlanta on Thursday and had all those wonderful procedures done that I've learned to just love (NOT). I have an appointment Tuesday with the doctor to discuss my treatment options based on the results from my biopsy. I also have chemo scheduled for that day, so needless to say I'm excited. HA! So, Tuesday is the day. Be praying for amazing things Tuesday. I am.

Bad Day

Today has been a not so good day. I had an appointment in Atlanta this morning at 8:30 am. Gross. First I went to the lab for blood tests. My blood counts were very good. The doctor was very pleased. Then on to see the doctor. It was a quick visit, but she cleared me and said I look great. Then the hard part came. I knew that I was going to be having chemo today and a bone marrow biopsy, but they surprised me with a spinal tap/lumbar puncture. My spinal fluid was clear which is what you want. :) When they did my biopsy they had to pull several times so I am in quite a lot of pain. I am going to be spending my afternoon and evening being a baby. :) I'm very excited because my entire family will be here in Macon with me this weekend. I can't wait to see them all. I have another appointment in Atlanta on Tuesday morning. I will be meeting with my doctor and his P.A. to work out my treatment plan. We thought we would have that today, but we have to wait on the results from the biopsy. So be praying for good things in my marrow. The harder it is for them to see the cancer cells the better. :)

At home?

Today is Tuesday (even though technically it is Wednesday). I have been "home" a total of two days and it is wonderful. I love being with my family. As many of you have read in previous posts, I have been living in North Carolina for the past year in the small town I had moved to Georgia from many years ago. Sylva. Since I need help with many different areas of my care (my family would say I just need help, period), it behooved me to "move" back to Macon Georgia and live with my family. I am still contact-able. The address here is 539 Moss Hill Drive Macon GA 31204. Also, I check my email hourly (really I do). I would prefer not to have tons of calls right now. I am tired often and I do not answer my phone if I don't recognize the number. This new transition is going to be very hard. I am a very hard person to live with, even before the illness. Your prayers for me and my family have been so important. I am living with my mother, little brother, and grandmother. I am going to be well looked after. :) On Thursday I will be returning to Atlanta to start my out-patient treatment. I have to be in Atlanta by 8 am for labs, chemo, and a bone marrow biopsy. Pray for strength through another biopsy. Thank you so much for all the wonderful cards, messages, emails, calls, prayers, and thoughts, they keep my attitude positive and that helps me stay strong. I love you all.

Home

I'm going home!! The doctors are letting me go home today!! I am so excited. I am feeling great and everything looks good.