Cathy Olsen - ALL
Just prior to my transplant - playing jacks with my granddaughter |
When I was first diagnosed with ALL , I kept thinking about
10 years ago a friend was diagnosed with ALL. She needed a bone
marrow transplant, was very optimistic but no donor could be
found.She died 2 years later and no umbilical cord transplant
was ever mentioned. So in 2006, when I received the same
diagnosis and was in need of a transplant,I thought
my life was over too. The doctors were very positive about finding
a donor for me, after all I have 4 siblings, a very good chance
for a match. If that didn't work then there was the national
donor bank, and then they could always use umbilical cord blood.
I was devastated to learn that none of my siblings matched and
I had a very unusual DNA that no adult match would ever be found.
In 8/07
with my granddaughter and grandson |
As if that wasn't bad enough, the insurance would not approve
cord blood transplants because they viewed it as experimental.
Every time an appeal was made and a denial received, I
felt I was getting a death sentence.
Every month with blood tests and periodic repeat bone
marrow biopsies I was afraid the results would be worse,
but fortunately I stayed in remission. My doctors worked very
hard with the insurance company to overturn their decisions.
Then by some miracle, my place of employment was bought by Banner
Health, which happened to be where my doctors were and where
I would receive the transplant. My doctor expidited, through
the board of directors, to have my care assumed under their plan
earlier than the first of 2008 . On October 31, 2007 I received
a double cord blood transplant. I know this has saved my
life.
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6 weeks post transplant - my goal was
to go on the Polar Express train ride with my grandkids
and husband |
I think about my friend just 10 years ago and am so grateful
for advances in research and medicine that I may live. More advances
and information need to be published so this procedure can become
the common standard of care, rather than the second or
third choice and a fight with insurance.
I feel good and am getting stronger every day. My recent bone
marrow biopsy, at day 64 post transplant, shows no recurrent
leukemia and that I am making all 3 types of cells. My life truely
has been saved by this procedure.
Cathy Olson
