Our 19 granddaughter, Paloma, has been battling Leukemia since she was 141/2 - she was in remission for about a year and a half when it reared it’s ugly head once again, last August. She endured several months of extremely-heavy duty doses of chemo and then 4 days of full body radiation. On February 27th, she received a stem cell transplant - her 24 year old brother was a perfect match. (Recently, it was reported that Paloma’s blood type has now converted over to her brothers, which, according to docs, is the #1 sign that the transplant has taken).


Everything considered, she has done quite well. She did experience a bout of pneumonia, as well as graft vs. host, (a common complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in which functional immune cells in the transplanted marrow recognize the recipient as "foreign" and mount an immunologic attack) – here’s a link, if anyone’s interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graft-versus-host_disease.

I’m happy to report that both the spinal tap and bone marrow aspiration of this last week both showed no sign of leukemia present.


When this originally hit, our daughter quit her job in order to attend to Paloma’s every need. Those dealing with this disease know that quite often means you are in the clinic 3-5 days a week. You’d think because you have an 8:30 am appointment that it’d be safe to schedule another activity for the afternoon. It’s not unusual to get home anywhere from 2-5:30pm! I'm not complaining, the staff is wonderful and do a magnificient job. I truly find myself looking forward to clinic visits.

I retired on Halloween of last year which has made me available to take Paloma to most all of her clinic visits. Some ask “isn’t it depressing, sitting around waiting in the Bone Marrow Outpatient Unit for blood-tests, scans, transfusions and infusions”, however, I find it exhilarating – these folks KNOW how precious life is and don’t seem to waste a moment.

We have flown her fiance', Adam, (shown above) in from the UK several times since Christmas - this time, he has been here since May 25th - he is incredible medicine for her heart & soul.

You just never know what life will bring - but I want to be awake and alive and able to enjoy every second - without fear or judgement . . .

Cute picture Terri and great reminder.

Those who have been affected by cancer are much more able to embrace the gift of life and not take the little things for granted. Cancer can take a lot a way, but it can also give our lives a whole new perspective and meaning, which if you ask me.....is a priceless gift. My life is forever changed because of the "new eyes, heart, and soul" I was given through my daughter Jonnae's, leukemia.

I'm so grateful Paloma is doing well and is finding love and joy in the arms of her family and the company of her boyfriend

Staying in gratitude always, in ALL ways,
Denise