Transplant Process Begins

On Tuesday Beth is admitted to the hospital for bone marrow transplant.  This begins a very critical phase in our battle with leukemia.  We wanted to share some specific things and to ask for very specific prayers during this period of time.

During the first day Beth will receive one dose of "total body irradiation".  This treatment jump starts the process of destroying her bone marrow and leukemia cells.  Then for the next 4 days she receives chemotherapy which works to ensure all of her marrow and leukemia cells are wiped out.  Both of these treatments are closely monitored and regulated because of Beth having Fanconi anemia which is the underlying cause of this leukemia.  This is also why we are being treated in NYC at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, one of only 2 hospitals in America with experience and success in transplanting adult Fanconi patients.

• Pray for the complete destruction of her marrow and leukemia cells.  This is essential to helping her body receive the new marrow.


• Pray for the side effects of these powerful treatments to be minimal.


• Pray for her to stay free from infection.  Her blood counts will be wiped out and staying infection free is a big goal.


• Pray for God's wisdom to work through the doctors.

On December 27th, the donor gives blood and marrow.  Beth is due to receive it on either the 28th or the 29th. It takes 7-14 days for the marrow to "ingraft" and start producing healthy cells.  There are four specific things that we need protection against: rejection of the donor's marrow, "Graft Versus Host Disease" (when the old blood & marrow fights the new marrow), infections (from bacteria, viruses, and fungi), and organ toxicity (this is the most unpredictable danger).  The doctors do many things to prevent and reduce the odds of any of these 4 things happening, but we of course want to pray against them!

• Pray for the new marrow to ingraft and for new, healthy cells to be produced and for Beth to be completely healed!!


• Pray against marrow rejection & Graft Versus Host Disease.


• Pray for Beth to stay infection free.


• Pray for Beth's organs to stay healthy & strong ... pray against organ toxicity.

Lastly, we continue to learn so much about God's grace. It often comes in unexpected ways and sometimes we even miss it, but it is always there and always sufficient. Pray for us to see this grace, treasure it, and when possible to share it.  One thing we have not missed is the grace that comes from our church family.  How people could go through something like this without having a faith family makes us more burdened for the unchurched.  Thank you Rock Bridge for being a source of God's grace to us!!