Thank you Tom for the update as I know this is a difficult time for you and Christina and the family. With AML I feel like its walking on eggshells every minute of the day. Prayers for strength and faith as you both have to decide on a difficult journey ahead. May God grant you and Christina peace and may He show His Love and Grace during this crucial journey.

I wish I had something to say that could help, things like this are heartbreaking. Rest assured that you do have my prayers for strength for you and your family, and a miracle and cure for Christina.
DaveJ

Tom, Thank you for updating us. I know it's prob not the highest priority for you right now. I'm praying for peace for you and Christina.

Tom, Christina and your family are in my prayers, this is heartbreaking and so unfair. My thoughts are with you all. I'm hoping if she decides to take the oral drug that it can get the blasts down and allow her to get strong enough for the injection combo. If she chooses the alternative, I pray for strength and peace for you all
Sending all my love and positive energy
Lea

Tom,

I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said. I am devastated for both of you and am praying for a miracle. I have seen medical miracles in my 30 years of practice. Even when all hope was lost. I am not just saying that. I mean it. I want to see the same for Christina.

Cliff

Praying fervantly for a miricle.

I think of both you and Christina often as your wife was diagnosed the same time as my brother. I know that we have both experienced the ups and downs of this terrible disease. I also empathize immensely as we are similar in age. As I know that given the limited options that you have now, I pray that God will bless both of you knowing that His grace is sufficient and whatever God has planned is for the best. I pray for less pain and suffering as I pray the same for all those inflicted with AML.

So sorry to read this news. Praying that God gives Christina, you and your family the strength for whichever path lies ahead. As Julie says, I will be praying for a miracle.

Debbie

Thanks to everyone for the prayers, comments and positive thoughts! Christina is going to start the oral chemo today (sorafenib) to try and keep her blasts in check for awhile. From what I read it does a decent job initially but then becomes less effective as time wears on. Hopefully this drug will not bring on any nasty side effects, as my wonderful wife's body is in a fragile state from the last hospitalization. Thanks again for all of the support!
Tom

Tom: Christina and you have been through a lot -- we all salute you for your continuing the battle. You can be assured that we will continue praying that her treatments go well. Give thanks and enjoy every beautiful day that you have together. -- daveB

So good to hear from you Tom. When Jack had relapsed his oncologist as well as the head oncologist of the department had different viewpoints on whether to try sorafenib. Dr. Schiller his own oncologist thought it was worth a try, but the department head said it won't do a thing. Well good thing Dr. Schiller was right-sorafenib did the trick. It's a targeted kinase inhibitor and was able to keep the leukemia at a controllable level for quite a while. The side effects from sorafenib are pretty tolerable. It's a good choice and I'm glad to hear that her team is taking this approach.

Praying and thinking of you and your family. Hang in there- I know it's been rough and hoping that things will smooth out soon. May God give you immense strength, good health,peace and a miracle!

Hello Everyone!
It has been quite awhile since I have been on this site. I was feeling pretty depressed about how things were going. Christina is still on Sorafenib and right now is doing ok. No leukemia in her blood and the chimerisms are at 100% donor! She is still fairly fragile after the coma episode and she is very easily fatigued. She had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday and her oncologist was pretty confident it would come back clear of blasts. Hopefully her condition will continue to improve and she can have a permanent blast free body!

Dear Tom,
That is wonderful news with the BMB & chimerism results for Christine. I've been catching up on your story, and it truly breaks my heart to hear what a very difficult course it has been for you both. What a fighter Christine has been to get through these challenges and I hope that she continued to gain in strength and health - we are all right behind you both in our support & love.
I just wanted to let you know my story - I also relapsed a few months after my BMT, had FLAG salvage chemo, sorafenib, donor lymphocyte infusion, which brought my chimerism back to 100%, but when my chimerism started dropping again(to 82%), I had a 2nd DLI and went on Azacitadine (started before relapsed had occurred). I'm now going onto my 20th cycle of Azacitadine and still in remission with some chronic gvhd. We had to stop sorafenib early on due to side effects.
I understand your wife is still quite fragile from her ordeal and treatments, so the doctors are mindful about treatment options, but azacitadine may be an option if needed (less toxic; can be given as outpatient. I have it I.V as I still have a Hickmans line in). I hope she won't need anything further and will continue to improve and get back to a life she & you truly deserve...much love to you both xxx

Hi Tom

Thank you so much for the update. Christine is always in my thoughts and prayers. I am so happy to read your update.

Hugs and prayers

Katen

Tom

Thank you so much for the update. Such great news that Christine is 100% with no blasts in her blood. I'm praying for an ubber clean bmb.

Blessings
Julie