Remission and a Perfect Match

We are pleased to let you know that I have achieved remission from the cancer. This means I no longer have Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), where I had little bits of cancer left even after treatment. Technically, I am in remission, which is a major goal to achieve before I have a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT). You may be wondering, if you are in remission, isn’t that the goal, so you don’t need a BMT? The answer is that because of the MRD, it increases the chances of a relapse significantly in a very short period. So, as great a remission sounds with leukemia, it depends on how far down the road of remission you are, which makes it exciting or not. Now on to some even more exciting news. 

One major hurdle in getting a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is finding a donor. They first start with siblings, and if they are not a match, they go to a volunteer list of people who say they are willing to donate to see if there is a match. I there is no match there they go to children and on and on until they find a donor. So it can take a long time to find a donor.

My sister Staci and Kerri, and my brother Dee all agreed to be tested to see if they are a match. Unfortunately, Staci could not be considered because she suffered significant head trauma and is not in a state to be able to donate, but Kerri and Dee were both tested. Dee was a 50% match, but we were filled with Joy when we discovered that Kerri is not just a match but a perfect 10 out of 10 match. What a miracle!! Siblings have a one in four chance of being a match.  The chances are much higher than trying among the general population, but it’s still a long shot, especially when only two were tested. We are grateful beyond words for my siblings' willingness to donate and even more thankful to the Lord that Kerri is a match and Kerri is not just willing but enthusiastically so. 

I am not sure exactly what is next, as we have not heard from the doctor yet, but I do know it speeds up the timeline a great deal. If I were to guess, the transplant will take place sometime in late July, but we should know soon know the plan soon. One detail we do know is that Kerri will have to be in town from Texas for at least 7 to 10 days. So, she will not just be donating her bone marrow; she is also donating her time. She is a full-time grandma, and she watches some of their grandchildren every day, so it will also be a sacrifice for her children as well, and we are grateful to them for their sacrifice while they find an alternative. 

I know things don’t turn out this way for a lot of people, and we will still have a long way to go, but I do know the Lord is in the details of our lives. I am reminded of a talk by Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Seventy in the April 2021 general conference. 

“God is our Heavenly Father. He loves all of us. He knows our potential way better than we know ourselves. He knows not only the details of our lives. God knows the details of the details of the details of our lives.”

The Lord loves us and from time to time we are reminded in a large way like we just witnessed, but I we are looking for it, we can find it in the details of our lives. Like a little miracle, like having modern-day technology that makes the transplant possible and the safest it has ever been. The miracle of light, both from the Sun and from that little bulb that Thomas Edison was inspired to invent. This reminds me that it is not coincident that the name of the huge ball in the sky, that provides light and life to the world, is the Sun, “S. U. N.” and the God who sacrificed his life to give light and life to the world is The Son, “S.O.N” meaning The Son of God even Jesus Christ. So every time we think of the Sun, it can remind us of the Son of God, our redeemer. 

We are moving forward with great hope for the future, and as I sit here typing in a hospital room going through another round of chemo, I am thankful to the Lord for all of my many blessings. Especially Sherrie for he incredible sacrifice and love for me. She has to do all the heavy lifting and even the little things, like sometimes having to put on only my socks because I can bend down to do it. I am thankful for my family and the support and love they show to me, and I’m thankful to everyone that has donated to our GoFundMe Fund. https://www.gofundme.com/f/jasons-fight-to-defeat-leukemia

Once again, we are thankful for everyone’s love, support, and concern for me and my family. I will keep you posted on any upcoming plans.

Jason