For my whole existence I lived by the book; I ate properly and exercised, all in the pursuit of good health and a long life. Then, at the age of 48, my near perfect world is turned upside down and inside out! With the onset of sudden, inexplicable bruising, I head to an emergency room to be told that if I had been in an accident on the way there, I could have bled to death.
Within a week, I am told I have "Very Severe Aplastic Anemia" and in my situation it is terminal! This very rare illness strikes one in one million people.
My husband Bob and I now face the difficult decision of whether or not I should undergo a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. With no other options available, I decide to have the procedure done which in itself can be as deadly as the disease.
Shortly after being diagnosed, I find myself in a downward health spiral. Not only has my blood lost its ability to clot, but my immune system is no longer functioning and my hemoglobin is dwindling by the day. It soon becomes obvious that I may not make it to a transplant date even if a donor can be found.
How can this happen to me I wonder? Will I indeed die and leave Bob after 29 years of marriage? With raw, gripping honesty, I bare my soul in this journey of love, courage, and hope and ultimately, against all odds, survival.
Within a week, I am told I have "Very Severe Aplastic Anemia" and in my situation it is terminal! This very rare illness strikes one in one million people.
My husband Bob and I now face the difficult decision of whether or not I should undergo a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. With no other options available, I decide to have the procedure done which in itself can be as deadly as the disease.
Shortly after being diagnosed, I find myself in a downward health spiral. Not only has my blood lost its ability to clot, but my immune system is no longer functioning and my hemoglobin is dwindling by the day. It soon becomes obvious that I may not make it to a transplant date even if a donor can be found.
How can this happen to me I wonder? Will I indeed die and leave Bob after 29 years of marriage? With raw, gripping honesty, I bare my soul in this journey of love, courage, and hope and ultimately, against all odds, survival.
