The amazing Andrea and her continuing journey to beat leukemia

Dear family and friends

Again I am sorry that this is so late in posting the time has been very busy.

The good news is that Andrea did get off the ventilator. It was a very scary time. Andrea was again amazing. The Pulmonary doctor told her she was a miracle because she had never had a patient survive her injury. We believe that is Andrea's strong will to live and everyone’s thoughts and prayers.

She is on continuous oxygen and still needs a lot of oxygen when she gets up but she is improving and they believe if she continues she won't need it for long in the future. She is still suffering with that terrible nerve pain everywhere. It makes it difficult for her to use her hands, move to get out of bed, stand or walk. She works so hard and little by little she is improving. She has had a few tearful episodes about it but she reminds herself of how bad she was after her first chemo and how she worked hard and it got better. She remains so strong, positive & hopeful for the future, she is very thankful to everyone who cares for her. Her doctors & nurses talk about how amazing and wonderful she is and how so many other employees ask about her. She has loved all the cards and my reading all the wonderful notes inside them. We spent some time with my reading her blog and all of your comment. It was really nice, thank you. Noreen she has really enjoyed all your cards, notes and the care package with the cute Mickey & Minnie mouse (and it did make her smile) and all the magazines, were really just the kind she liked and has started looking through them. It is really hard for her to look through them but she still enjoys them and I think it helps her feel a little more like what she used to do.

So thank you everyone for so much. This is really a hard time for Andrea and she is working hard so anything you all do for her is a moment that feels good in a day filled with hard work and pain.

They are discussing Andrea going home. However in last week she has needed blood and platelets. She also has had an ever increasing fever that they thought was related to one of medications however the fever has persisted and today she had a slight rash. So this morning she felt ruff and she had more tests but we are hoping for a short wheelchair ride off the unit. It will be the first time out of her room except for tests since February 7th. Wow what a journey this has been.

Thank you all so much for all that do for Andrea. Take care Love Andrea, Sharon, Joe & Kathleen

Andrea was about to be weaned off the ventilator when she developed a fever and a drop in her blood pressure. They are treating it like a serious infection until they know differently. The gave her two units of blood and several new antibiotics. She seems to be having a better afternoon. I read her the blog postings she seemed to relax more. Since she is unable to talk due to the endotrachial tube into her lungs to help her breath. Then the medications they are giving her cause he to be very sedated and may be making her confused. So has intermittent episodes of waking up with fear and confusion and few episodes of her seeming to understand what is going on. She was so deathly ill when she was put on the ventilator and she has no idea about the chest tube in her chest. It seems so hard but she keeps working so hard. So keep Andrea in your thoughts and prayers we are trying to hold onto some good momentum. Thank you from the taylors

Andrea is getting better

4-4-2011 Dear Family and friends Andrea had her lung biopsy March 29th. The surgery team not only appeared very knowledgeable but they were very thoughtful and gentle with Andrea and us. They seemed aware she was a very special person and seemed very tender in talking and touching her. It took a little longer to do because they were very careful with her and she was and is very fragile. Fortunately she had no infection. Unfortunately she had severe injury to her lungs from? possible post engraftment inflammation or it possibly may be from a previous infection. Infectious disease and pulmonary doctors think it was from post engraftment and should respond to steroids. We were pretty upset to get what could have been terrible news. But we put our tears aside and remembered how strong Andrea really is. I said I think if anyone truly deserves a miracle I think Andrea should. She is so kind and such a wonderful person and she has suffered so much to overcome this cancer. So we proceeded She started off on very high oxygen and other ventilator assistance but she every day improved slow but sure. She was improving daily until Sat and Sun night when suffered a couple of set backs from an air leak from the chest tube and she had two episodes of a pneumothorax affecting her lungs. She so rallied and is again making big strides to improving. Starting Sunday they are starting to slowly reduce her sedation so that later this week or next if all goes well, she will get extubated and then get her chest tube out. A couple of days ago she woke up some, sat up in bed and with all her chest and endotracheal tubes and arterial and central lines and reached out and hugged me. Though that was scary and totally not something we would have wanted, still it was a very touching moment for all us. Also it let us know Andrea’s strength and loving spirit is still strong, even with all that pain and confusion she must have had when she sat up. She was sedated more and has been sleeping quietly since. We are so hopeful her lungs are healing well and that the terrible pain she had from her reaction from one of the immune suppressive drugs will be gone. So the rest of her body is doing really well so hopefully after this lung injury is better she will be better. Everyone is amazed on how well Andrea is doing On a wonderful note :-) Andrea's bone marrow is now 100% her host- This is not that common to have this so early but it is truly wonderful. Many transplant patients have some engraftment at this time, some fail at this time but a few special people have this full engraftment. We always knew Andrea was a pretty special person J She has grade 2 graft vs. host reaction. This means her new immune should see any possible leukemic cells as foreign and destroy them (We’re unsure if it was what damaged her lungs but that is done and if it is it should respond well to steroids, which it seems to be doing). That means her chances of a full cure from her leukemia is extremely high " Go Andrea" So if she can make this lung hurtle she should be able to hopefully move on from her back in her mind, everyday worry of Cancer. She will still have a tough road in the immediate future just getting off the ventilator and in just getting stronger. She has been extremely sick and in bed for almost two months. However, those that know her, know that she is so motivated and tuff that she will conquer those challenges too. Plus with the love and support of all of her family and friends that too will help her through this and other possible tough times she might have ahead. She will still have to worry about possible infections for the first two years post transplant but lets hope they are mild if she has any. So we thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I have read Andrea your notes because she might hear them. We were encouraged to play music and talk and read to her as her sedation is decreased and she starts to wake up. I will also read them to her again when she wakes up. I know she will enjoy them. Thank you for love and kindness for Andrea Take Care love Sharon