SUCCESS STORIES

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - Cathy Olsen

In  8/07 with my granddaughter and grandson

When I was first diagnosed with ALL, I kept thinking about 10 years ago a friend was diagnosed with ALL. She needed a bone marrow transplant, was very optimistic but no donor could be found. She died 2 years later and no umbilical cord transplant was ever mentioned. So in 2006, when I received the same diagnosis and was in  need of a transplant,I thought my life was over too. The doctors were very positive about finding a donor for me, after all I have 4 siblings, a very good chance for a match. If that didn't work then there was the national donor bank, and then they could always use umbilical cord blood.

I was devastated to learn that none of my siblings matched and I had a very unusual DNA that no adult match would ever be found. 

As if that wasn't bad enough, the insurance would not approve cord blood transplants because they viewed  it as experimental. Every time an appeal was made and a denial received,  I felt I was getting a death sentence.

6 weeks post transplant - my goal was to go on the Polar Express train ride with my grandkids and husband

Every month with blood tests and periodic  repeat bone marrow biopsies I was afraid the results would be worse, but fortunately I stayed in remission. My doctors worked very hard with the insurance company to overturn their decisions.

Then by some miracle, my place of employment was bought by Banner Health, which happened to be where my doctors were and where I would  receive the transplant. My doctor expidited,  through the board of directors, to have my care assumed under their plan earlier than the first of 2008 . On October 31, 2007 I received a double  cord blood transplant. I know this has saved my life.

I think about my friend just 10 years ago and am so grateful for advances in research and medicine that I may live. More advances and information need to be published so this procedure can become the common standard of care,  rather than the second or third choice and a fight with insurance.

I feel good and am getting stronger every day. My recent bone marrow biopsy, at day 64 post transplant, shows no recurrent leukemia and that I am making all 3 types of cells. My life truely has been saved by this procedure.

Cathy Olson

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