Welcome to the Reyne Family's journey. As we head into 2014, we are gearing up for a year of treatment to combat and hopefully halt the destructive effects of Multiple Myeloma (MM), cancer of the plasma cells which are found in the bone marrow, causing tumors and eventually fractures usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs and skull. Multiple myeloma is incurable, but treatable.
Scott Reyne, our beloved husband, father, brother and friend was diagnosed with MM in February 2007 while living in Gilbert, Arizona after finding a large tumor and compression fracture on his spine at the L4/L5 vertebra. After radiation and chemotherapy, he underwent an autologous (his own cells) stem cell transplant (formerly called a bone marrow transplant). This was very successful and he was in complete remission until December 2012. The cancer returned stronger and more aggressive in 2013. After trying two different chemotherapy drugs, it was determined the best option was another stem cell transplant, only this time they are going to do a double transplant; an autologous transplant followed about three months later by an allogeneic (donor stem cells) transplant. This is a more difficult procedure for the patient to undergo, i.e., a longer recovery time, more potential complications, but it can increase survival by many, many years.
This blog is being written so those who would like to follow Scott's progress can, and so our two children who are serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New York, Utica mission and the Birmingham, Alabama mission who will not be here with us this year can know how things are going with their dad. Their faith in choosing to serve a mission at this time knowing that their dad was going to face these trials has deepened our faith and strengthened our testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ who is the source of all peace and comfort.
As the doctors have said, this treatment option is not for the faint of heart. But we are not faint-hearted. We are strong, we are full of faith and we know from where our strength comes. We are blessed to have each other and we will make it through this. We may be fighting Multiple Myeloma, but, like the blog title says, this year it's "Multiple Bye-eloma!"
No comments:
Post a Comment