Because of the reverse chronological order of blog postings, it's hard for newcomers to get up to speed with our bone marrow transplant story. This page offers a brief synopsis.
- February, 2005 Roger was diagnosed with AML Leukemia. Roger's siblings were type-matched in case a transplant was needed.
- February, 2005 Chemo was started.
- March, 2005 Roger went into remission.
- March, 2005 - January, 2006 "Consolidation" treatments (Chemo) continued throughout the year in an effort to destroy any remaining leukemia cells. He remained in remission throughout the year of treatments - 5 years in all.
- August 5, 2010 Roger's leukemia relapsed and he was told chemo would not keep it under control. He was referred to the Intermountain Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the LDS hospital. After consultation with many specialists and many tests, a transplant was scheduled.
- November 15, 2010 Roger was admitted to the hospital and began the "preparatory regimen" (high-dose chemotherapy, designed to wipe out all leukemia cells, and his own bone marrow cells in the process).
- November 19, 2010 Roger's brother Robert began his preparatory treatment to donate stem cells.
- November 23-24, 2010 Stem cell collection occurred over two days.
- November 24, 2010 Roger received Robert's bone marrow stem cells via infusion.
- November 24, 2010 - March 4, 2011 the critical "100 days" after the transplant.
- March 4, 2011 - Day 100. We return home to Montana.
- August 5, 2011 Exactly one year to the date that we got the news Roger was no longer in remission. The leukemia cells are back and growing in his transplanted bone marrow.
- September 1, 2011 - We were told that the transplant is not having the hoped-for graft vs leukemia effect. Roger's brother/donor is too close a genetic match.
- October 7, 2011 Roger received a T-cell Infusion: more of his brother's cells, as a sort of "booster" for the transplant.
- December 2011 There is no sign of leukemia, but Roger has GVH, a new challenge...
- November 9, 2012. Leukemia is back. The plan is to treat the same as last time: chemo until remission, and then a stem cell infusion.
- December 21, 2012 Roger received a second T-cell infusion, but with too many leukemia cells still present in his blood, there is not much hope that his brother's cells will be able to fight it. He also has a fungal infection in his lungs, liver and jaw bone.
- January 18, 2013 Roger passed away and will live forever in our hearts.
