Gremlins and other such layman terms

6/30/14

So I was talking to Ashley yesterday as she was up in a chair, eating her lunch (YES! PRAISE GOD!) and she said she was thinking about this random fast-onset APL disease (leukemia) she now has. Several people have asked things like, how long has she had it, why does she need to stay in the hospital for a month, what causes it, etc., so here's some explanations:

It's Acute Promyelocyctic Leukemia. The acute part says that it was quick on set, so it's likely she hasn't had it for even a month. It's not hereditary, and will not affect her having children in the future.

The treatment includes a pill-form of chemotherapy (doesn't cause hair loss or nausea), a cancer zapping form of arsenic, a blood thinner for the clots in her brain and the occasional Tylenol. SO that means her immune system is depleted, which means she suseptable to infection, and with blood thinner is a bleeding risk. Nothing scary about that, just want to keep her in a soft bed or chair a few yards away from a nurse in the event she gets a scratch walking to and from the bathroom or taking a shower - BTW (for you over 40 that means "by the way") she did take her first shower today and feels like a million bucks! She should be getting a face mask filter thing today so she can start taking laps around the hospital. GOD IS SO GOOD!

Some have asked what causes this form of leukemia. Well, Ashley's explanation is that it's much like Gremlins. What has been explained by her doctors is that it is immature, over-excited, over-zealous white blood cells that have crashed the place, super multiplied and wreaked havoc. Although the doctors don't know what causes those cells to do that (other than feeding/getting them wet after midnight. haha. jk.); they do know exactly how to get them to stop. Which is what the chemo/arsenic cocktail are currently doing as we speak. They want her to be in remission (which they have somehow got down to a science that it will be approximately 4 weeks) before leaving to do out-patient treatment.

Her blood pressure, heart rate, and balance of meds have all been in range/balance for the last couple of days. Her biggest complaint right now is that she tends gets hot at night, gets tired quickly and her neck gets stiff trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, and we will take that! By the grace of God, she is doing AMAZING. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! Please keep continuing to share the youcaring.com/SupportTheStClairs link to help her with the costs of her and family staying in the hospital while she receives care.

Lamentations 3:23 - Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

~ The Big Sister 

First Update 6/28/14

What a difference a couple of weeks can make.

Two weeks ago my sister had a headache and today she has APL (leukemia) and blood clots in her brain. Believe me, I understand how scary that sounds, we all do, but I want to make this blog so that I (and members of our family) can give accurate updates as to the status of her diseases and her care.

We hope that this will help keep concerns from speculation, not knowing details or miscommunication from second-hand information at a minimum while providing everyone with the first hand information they need, all in one place, to pray for and support Ashley, Wesley and family during this time. We are SO incredibly thankful and blessed by the outpouring of encouragement, thought and prayer. We know now more than ever how powerful a support system such as this can be.

To catch up:

Sunday night, June 22, 2014, Ashley was in the ER due to pain in her head and neck, vomiting and double vision. She was told to set up appointments with neurologist and ophthalmologist the next day. But by the next morning, they were back in the ER. The doctors quickly found that she should be transferred to ICU within a specialized hospital in Northern California. And praise God, it's the hospital that is nationally recognized for this specific disease. Ashley and her husband, Wesley, are stationed with the Air Force, just under two hours away. God is GOOD.

On June 24th, her brilliant team (at least a dozen) doctors confirmed that pressure she had in her spinal column and eyes was due to the clotting in her brain, which was set off by Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. They started her on chemo, a huge dose of vitamin A, pain meds, even a form of arsenic to attack the cancer cells, all while trying to establish a safe range of blood pressure (it has stayed elevated) and a healthy balance for blood thinner to shrink the blood clots in her brain. What is awesome is that the chemo she is taking doesn't have the hair loss or nausea side effects known with other types of chemo treatments. And the best thing is, my new favorite word, which they say quite frequently, that this specific, although somewhat rare combination of diseases is CURABLE. Just typing it brings me joy. My baby sister is in the hands of our GREAT God. THANK GOD for that.

Last night the doctors found that she was no longer considered critical, but STABLE! Enough stability to lose some of the wires and needles and make a trip downstairs to a private room in the hematology (not ICU) wing. PRAISE GOD!

She has a long road ahead, with keeping the meds balanced, pressure down and clotting to subside. But it is a road to my next new favorite word, REMISSION. Please continue to pray for that. Doctors have said that she will remain in the hospital until that word is said, which they said will be another 4 weeks. She will then be receiving out patient treatment for approximately the next 6 months.

My sister means the world to me, not just because she's my only sibling (my twin 6 years apart) but because she's my rock, my best friend and often my compass. She continually teaches me what it means to give of yourself, to put others first. Even laying in that hospital bed she thinks of everyone else's comfort above her own. I would do anything to take this from her, but instead I will celebrate each milestone, holding her hand, and praying alongside each of you that love her as well. Thank you so much for loving my baby sister as you have and will continue to do. I can't express what that means.

Wesley and Ashley will be here away from home for at least a month, and family will be flying back and forth from Texas. They have needs incurring from staying in housing on campus and the loss of her income, and family airfare. If you feel led to help them so that they can focus on her and not the incidentals of life, please click the "Give Now" link on the column to the right. Thank you SO much.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Sinus and Cerebral Vein Thrombosis - See more at: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/support-the-st-clairs/196805#sthash.wANsVYQh.dpuf

~ The Big Sister

NOTE: Ashley cannot receive flowers or plants to the hospital due to her lack of immunity. If you would like to send notes of encouragement or small gifts, they can be sent to the on campus housing. Email Wesley (wesleystclair@gmail.com) or myself (brittcarp09@gmail.com) for address. Thank you.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Sinus and Cerebral Vein Thrombosis - See more at: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/support-the-st-clairs/196805#sthash.wANsVYQh.dpuf

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Sinus and Cerebral Vein Thrombosis - See more at: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/support-the-st-clairs/196805#sthash.wANsVYQh.dpuf