Leap of Faith

After a lot of prayer (a lot), fasting, discussion, thought, and not feeling sure going either route (transplant or more chemo), Cory and I felt like we needed to make a decision and move forward with it.  We knew once we started moving the Lord could help us know if that was the right direction.  Either way was a gamble.  I kept thinking, "Is the cancer going to kill me, or the transplant?"  We've been told this kind of cancer with the  sarcoma tends to relapse easier.  There are also a lot of risks involved in a bone marrow transplant.  We also have faith that whatever happens whichever way, it would be OK.  Don't get me wrong...it doesn't mean we're not scared.  Sometimes downright terrified. And it doesn't mean that sometimes our faith hasn't faltered. But, we have to let faith override the fear.  Otherwise, what are we left with?   The Lord has been with us and will continue to be.  We have faith in His plan.

With all that said, we decided to move forward with a bone marrow transplant.  We are going to do it at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I have an appointment to meet with Dr. Paul Shami (at Huntsman) next Wednesday the 19th.  I'll fly out to meet with him then return home.  Assuming he's also in favor of a transplant being my best bet for a cure, we'll then work to get all of us out there ASAP.

This is a recent email response from Dr. El-Shami:

Hi Janna,

I support your decision to proceed with transplant. I have been on the fence simply because of lack of reliable data to recommend for or against transplant without hesitation. Let's see what the folks at Salt Lake will think. Dr. Kantarjian of MD Anderson also recommended transplant (though yet again a 'wet' recommendation). Let me know if you need any help getting all the records to Utah on time. But it should not be a problem.

Keep me posted. 

More as it  unfolds.