Hello Lea. My heart goes out to you and Tony. A young couple like you should never have to deal with this at a time when you're just starting to build your lives and family.

But keep up a positive attitude. This is a common thing and the disease is still quite curable, even after relapse. As far as transplant centers, you can always go to the big name centers like MD Anderson in Houston, the Hutch in Seattle, Sloan Kettering here in New York. But that's probably not necessary as I understand Loyola in the Chicago area is a leading center in the midwest. One of our frequent contributors here, Lori Challinor, took her son Keir there after having been at Rush. I hope she sees this post and chimes in. I'm sure she can be very helpful.

Good luck, stay calm and positive. This is just a bump in the road.

Lou

Oh Lea,

I'm shocked as I sit here with a dx date one month after tony s and the same dx. I do know that my med team started often that inversion 16 -is one of the easiest to get back into remission. I know of a gentlemen tonys age who relapsed, went to transplant with an unrelated donor and is five years out. Please know my family it's praying for your s.

Julie

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your husband is young and strong - I have confidence that he will beat this! Hang in there. xoxo

Go to Loyola. Rush transplant dumped Keir as well. Who was your primary heme/onc at Rush? Did Dr. Fung leave Rush (he was the head of transplant, I think)

Lea,

So sorry to hear this. Keep positive and, even though I know it is hard, try not to worry. You, your husband, and your family will be in our prayers.

Lori
Rush was great for chemo only but since Dr Fung left the transplant team is in shambles over there. Tonys doc was Dr Shammo at Rush, she even reached out to dr Wendy stock at U of C. Who is your doctor at Loyola

I was treated at University of Chicago back in 2008, and am somewhat familiar with Dr. Stock. I was treated by Dr. Olatoyosi Odenicke at U of C, and have nothing but praises for their doctors, nurses, and transplant team. My case was tricky--MDS that progressed to AML FLT3-ITD. When my first donor backed out, my team arranged for a backup within 24 hours! Lori's son Keir has also had excellent treatment at Loyola. I pray that The Lord leads you in the best direction. God bless.

Lea,

I'm so sorry to hear this news. When we talked with the docs about chemo only and saving a transplant for relapse we were told that good cytogenetics are still considered favorable even after relapse. So basically they told us he would still have a good chance of a cure even if he relapsed. That is why there is no reason to risk a transplant in those with a favorable diagnosis the first time around. They can do straight chemo on you and then save the transplant for relapse and still have great success. We met a gal that relapsed and had a transplant while we were in the hospital and she is doing great (a year and a half later)! Sending prayers your way,

Julie

Dr. Patrick Stiff, Dr. Tulio Rodriguez or Dr. Smith. Tell them what happened and they will see you quickly. It's a good team. A lot of crap went down at Rush while we were there vis a vis the transplant team. They do NOT give up on people at Loyola. Period. It's a positive and very thorough place I'm going through anxiety right now with Keir and his bouncing numbers but they are very helpful. Dr. Rodriguez is Keir's doctor. They are all good. Different personalities. But if your dr. from Rush calls they will move fast. Or, as Kim said, U of C is a brilliant institution as well. I don't know where you are located - perhaps that is a better option in terms of geography, it's absolutely as good in terms of quality.

Loyola would be much closer for us, than u of c for transplant, were in sugar grove. We're trying to get this sorted out by days end, at least the induction part.
Praying his brother is a match, ttgree siblings are all getting tested this week.
can someone give me the true low down on transplant process, I am refusing to google and were waiting for the rest of the final bone marrow report before we go in.

Lea -

I am so sorry for your anguish. There is no reason to think that your husband, young and strong as he is, won't do very well with transplant. We are here for you. Wishing you and your family the very best as you navigate these rough waters.

Robin

Lea -- it was like someone hit me in the gut with a baseball bat -- we are all devastated. But Lori and others are giving your great advice and I feel like once you get re-situated things are going to turn around for Tony and you. We are praying that the transition will go smoothly and perhaps they even made a mistake with the 10%, I am sure they will do another BMT -- hospitals tend not to trust each other. Try not to let it get you down. Many of us have suffered setbacks and we know how you feel, and it is not good. Try to look at things one day at a time -- thank God for that one day and make the most of it -- enjoy it as much as you can and let tomorrow take care of itself (Matthew 6). Take care -- dave

Thank you everyone please keep the prayers coming we meet with a new medical team tomorrow at a different hospital then we've done all of our previous treatment and so nevertheless we are extremely nervous about what lies ahead so please continue to pray for a great medical team, and for this round of treatment to work, and that we find a perfect bone marrow donor match in one of Tony's three siblings

Lea,

Please know I'm praying. My one sibling had not been tested. My med team said that 70% use an unrelated donor and if you are off northern European decent a match is highly likely. Are you going to layola?

Julie

Lea,will keep you in my prayers. We met with the team from U of C as well as Loyola. Both are excellent. We chose Loyola because their philosophy was closer to ours - hit it hard and fast. But Kim (Aint'Misbehaving) had a great experience at U o C and it's a great institution.

I am very intrigued by what the heck happened at Rush. Although it is the least of my worries right now,