Lori,

Please read this article on cancer statistics-The Median is not the Messege. I re-read it often. It affirms exactly what Cliff says. I NEVER look at them and NEVER will.

http://cancerguide.org/median_not_msg.html

Blessing and Peace be with you,

Julie

Lori,

Cancer is Binary. Everyone's case is different. Stats mean nothing to me anymore. I was FLT3 chemo only (not smart, but wasnt at a good hospital) lived a glorious10 months of cancer free life and relapsed. I would have gone straight to transplant but I relapsed after my second induction. I went to a trial which brought me BACK into complete remission and I am 54 days post transplant and have every intention of making this BMT work. WHICH works for MANY FLT3 AML patients post transplant.

I write this history for one reason. Only to show you how ROUGH I have had it and how STRONG I am and intend to be for many years. 45 more at LEAST.

Keir found all this out as early as possible. He is in remission on his first treatment and likely to go right into transplant. THE BEST SCENARIO FOR SUCCESS. It isn't a blessing, but it is definitely fortuitous. Please know that. Let it stop the derailment and give you strength in whatever your belief system lies.

I am very positive about Keirs future and I send you love and peace in your heart and all my prayers. I can't imagine how you feel, but want you to know we are a blanket of love for you at this moment.

Ed

remember there is real time and there is hospital time :) after 3 months in and out of hospital for the different rounds we still forgot that hospital time was never on time :)

Nothing we could do about it, but we had to laugh about it after a while :)

xx

Ed -- on behalf of Lori, thanks for the great encouragement -- you and many others who are helping are what this forum is all about. May God bless you as you continue your fight ... you have indeed looked beyond the darkness -- dave

Ed, thank you so much. Your attitude is absolutely amazing; I am - again - in awe. And I know that you are going to have those years you plan on; such a spirit in you and all of you. And thank you all for your help today. I am not precisely sure why this particular news sent me into such a tailspin, but I am doing better tonight, and I certainly know why.

My grateful thoughts and prayers for you all. This forum is amazing.

LORI,

If we all had a nickel for everything that sent us for a loop, we would own a cancer recovery resort on Maui!

xo
Ed

PS GREAT article Julie.

Hi Lori - my dad is trying to get to transplant. Its the best route to a cure for FLT3. However, his remissions have not been long enough for him to get there. Now we are hoping that Plexxicon will bridge him to transplant. But transplant is the way to go.

And, he actually has not been able to find an adult match so when the time for transplant comes, he will be doing a "haplo cord" - ie. cord blood with stem cells from a half match.

Remember, You have options! and Keir is young and strong. Hang in there, both of you! When my dad was diagosed, I had just had my first baby (girl) exactly one week ago. My dad and I had big plans for her, and I felt like my world was caving in. The first couple of months are a blur - I just remember being terrified.

But things are much better now. We have information, and great team of very positive doctors and we have our gloves on - WE ARE READY TO FIGHT! Its a tough disease but CURABLE!!!!!!! dont ever forget that. Just ask tons of questions, both of your doctors and this board, stay off the internet and be sure to get some sleep!