I promised my family that I come back home! Help me defeat leukemia!

My name is Beata. I am 55 years old, and I have been suffering from leukemia. Before Christmas 2020, I developed acute abdomen pain that made it impossible to eat or sleep.  

I called my doctor, who told me to have my blood checked. On the same day, I received a call from the laboratory, and I was told that my test results were bad and that I should see a hematologist. So I did. It turned out I had leukemia. My whole world collapsed.

The diagnosis blew me away! However, the prognosis was optimistic since I developed the “mildest” type - chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Standard treatment usually includes years-long drug therapy under a doctor’s supervision. In my case, it was more complicated than that. Three main types of treatment failed. 

I had to take sick leave due to my health condition - a total lack of immunity made it impossible to do my job. I was qualified for a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor. I was overcome with joy when they found one! In March, I was admitted to the hospital unit to prepare for transplant surgery, which was my chance for a better life. Unfortunately, the bacteria I caught caused pneumonia and sepsis. I was in critical condition. I did not surrender, though. The doctors did their best to save my life, but at a cost - I had to stop taking leukemia medication, which caused cancer cells to multiply. In consequence, I required chemotherapy. My test results were scary, and since my body was destroyed by chemotherapy and prone to infection, I developed another life-threatening pneumonia. Although my family received another phone call about my critical condition, I recovered from this infection as well. Cancer cells multiplied again, though. I started taking the medication in October, which was initially effective. Unfortunately, three weeks later, I caught a high fever which maintained for two weeks, so I had to abort drug therapy.

Leukemia cells substituted blood cells by 48% and developed into secondary acute myeloid leukemia. The doctors decided to stop the treatment due to the lack of options. Everything failed. I had to leave the hospital, return home for palliative therapy and spend the rest of my life with my family. 

If that were the case, I would suffer a slow death. However, my family did everything they could to organize consultations with the specialists, so I could start another treatment in Poland. 

If it proves effective, I will have another chance to undergo a bone marrow transplant and recover! If not, I will probably require expensive treatment abroad. 

I have a loving husband, two daughters, and four grandchildren whom I haven’t seen for months. I don’t know what will happen to me, but I want to live, and I will put up a good fight!   

Please, help me win this battle.

Beata