Over the summer and during the school year, I had several little aching joints. Each one only lasted a short while. No big deal. Then I had very tired aching legs for about 1.5 weeks. This was not too unusual for me as my legs ache if I don’t sleep or wear bad shoes. The factor that made me go to the doctor about this was that my dad has rheumatoid arthritis and my sister has had indications but not a firm diagnosis of rheumatoid. I thought if this is the case, I need to stop it before it gets worse.
After blood work, it was found that my liver enzymes were elevated. Further testing revealed that my iron levels were very high. The doctor described a very do-able diagnosis of hemochromotosis. This only requires getting bled to release the extra iron and then it is monitored all along. The doctor gave me this info. on the Tuesday of Spring Break. He referred me to a hematologist to confirm his diagnosis.
After getting back into town on Easter Sunday at 9:30 PM, I had an apt with the specialist at 8:15 on Monday AM. By the grace of God, Tim missed a 5:45 AM flight that morning. He was scheduled to be in VA all day.
The doctor said that my condition didn’t line up exactly with hemochromotosis but that it could be that my liver has been damaged due to a virus or medication that is causing it to send out extra iron. He then left the room to be sure that he had all of the orders set for my blood.
He then came back and said, “sit back down”. My world stopped. He said that he had looked at my blood smear and saw abnormal cells that my bone marrow was kicking out. He said if it is what he thinks it is that we have to act immediately. He needed to do a bone marrow biopsy and that he could do that in his office. I asked if he was thinking cancer and he said yes but curable. All I could think of was my three kids. He asked if I had anyone with me. I told him no but I could get someone in the afternoon. He said we need to do it now and Fed Ex it out now. I called Tim. Shirley brought him over and he was there. Our heads were spinning.
In the end the doctor said his working diagnosis was leukemia and that I would have to be at Emory for 3-4 weeks. Again, I could only think of my three kids. How could we do this?? Now I know. All of you are carrying us through this. Jesus is making Himself known through all of you.
We got results on Wednesday at about 11:00. Then we were on our way. I had blood work on Wednesday PM and Friday AM. The Doctor at Emory said we would stay on Friday but in the end did not have a bed for me. So I got to spend the weekend at home. I had to go back for more blood work on Sunday AM with the possibility of staying again. In the end I went in on Monday morning and we kicked off chemo on Tuesday PM.