I went to have my cholesterol checked by my doctor, and when the tests came back, my white blood cells were low. My doctor sent me to a hematologist to find out why my white blood cell count was low. After several tests for everything under the sun being negative, including leukemia, it was decided to perform a bone marrow biopsy. That was Thursday, October 3, 2019. On Friday, October 4, I received a phone call from my oncologist telling me to get to the hospital because I had acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)! I was so worried because I am a single mom, even though my daughters are in college. They still needed me.
While in the hospital, my sister looked up Blood Cancer United (formerly LLS), signed me up, and I received a $100 gas card almost immediately, which I used to fill my daughter’s tank since I was stuck in the hospital and she was traveling to and from college to visit me on weekends. After I was released from the hospital, I received a $500 travel card for gas, oil changes, car repairs, and hotels, etc. I was grateful I lived close enough to the treatment center to not need a hotel.
In the middle of November, I had another bone marrow biopsy, and I received the results right before Thanksgiving that the APL was gone!! Now I just needed to have treatment to retrain my bone marrow to make the correct stuff! I am now six years cancer-free and no longer see my oncologist and just have yearly bloodwork with my general practitioner.
It's so important to have blood tests once a year!
I also received so much money that when I finished my treatment, I didn’t have any bills between insurance and Blood Cancer United. I am working to donate money to help others who may need help with treatment or for continued research.
Judy
acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)
