torand.org » leukemia

Fighting the good fight

Scott — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:16:26 +0000

My sister-in-law has been fighting acute myelogenous leukemia cancer for the past year. Tom and Diane have taken every tack in fighting this foe, chemotherapy, radiation even a bone marrow transplant. They went after this foe with every tool that the medial community had to offer. They have put up a hard fought battle against a foe that was equally tough.

I talked to Tom last Thursday, the cancer is back. Tom and Diane thought they had turned a corner with the bone marrow transplant, but the cancer is just too aggressive. They had a meeting with her oncologist yesterday, Tuesday, and he broke the horrible news to them that my lovely sister-in-law has but 1-2 months left in this fight. When Tom called last week, I think everyone in the family had the same idea that if the end would come we would have more time to say our goodbye. No one would have guessed that her time with us would be less than 2 months.

When I talked to Tom he sounded beat, I cannot imagine what he is going through. I feel so helpless living a thousand miles from them. He is going through one of the most stressful times in his life and there is nothing I can do to help him.

Good News!!

Scott — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:08:43 +0000

Tom posted this on the CaringBridge blog…

9-12 We have some good news today. The results of the bone marrow biopsy is back and it did NOT show any cancer cells. So right now it is a waiting game for her counts to come up. She will still get some outpatient Chemo I believe that will be over some months and I am not sure how often she will need to come in to receive it. The prayers you have prayed has helped. Thanks.

That is a relief for everyone in our family. Since Diane was put in the hospital, Tom has spent every waking moment with her. I pray with outpatient Chemo, things will get back to normal in the family.

…just to be there.

Scott — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:33:18 +0000

I talked to my parents today to nail down some of the details on us traveling to Des Moines later this month. We were going to change our tickets to fly out in November for the wedding, but the airlines wanted a 120% premium to change our tickets to a flight in November. Unreal.

Our conversation was dominated with talk of Diane and Tom. Tom has been spending most of his time at the hospital. He told mom that Diane is having good days and bad days… Sunday was a bad day. The type of leukemia Diane has is called Acute myeloid leukemia, she will be in the hospital for the next 3-4 weeks. Tom created a page at CaringBridge so family and friends can communicate with Diane while she is in the hospital.

Since we have the ticket to Des Moines, we are going to use them to be with my brother and sister in law. I feel that there is really nothing I can do than just be there. Maybe that is all that is needed.. just to be there.

Cancer… a scary disease that effects everyone

Scott — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:49:54 +0000

I got a call Monday night from my sister Jan informing me that my sister-in-law was just diagnosed with leukemia. This is devastating to the whole Anderson family. Tom, my brother, told our parents face to face, I am glad about that. Mom does not handle this type of information well.

I talked to Mom last night and she told me that Diane was admitted to the hospital and would be there for the next month. That was a surprise that they would admit her so soon and for such a long time. This is putting all too much pressure on my brother’s family because my niece’s wedding is just 3-4 weeks away. Right now, everything is up in the air.