I did get to spend the holidays in the hospital.  All of my levels (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) were critically low.  I was there 8 days getting transfusions and waiting for my bone marrow to start working again so it could produce those cells.  My body has built up antibodies to the platelets and blood so it takes a long time to get my levels up.

I came back to the hospital yesterday for another round of chemo.  This will take 6 days then I can go home until my levels drop again.  Then in about a week I will be back to the hospital trying the get the levels up again.  This is a very long journey, but worth the fight.  I have so much to live for!  I will have one more chemo treatment in March then hopefully I will be in Remission and won't have any relapses.  Thanks again for all of your love and support.  Love you all!

I am back at the hospital getting chemo again.  I am hoping that my platelets and red and white blood cells will stay high enough so I can be home for Christmas.  Once my platelets drop I have to come back to the hospital for a continual drip of platelets until my bone marrow starts working again.  I had  a transfusion of platelets about 2 weeks ago and had 21 bags. Can't wait to see how much that cost.  Thanks for all your continued support!  I love you all!  Merry Christmas!

Consolidation

I came back to the hospital on Thursday for 5 days.  This is called "Consolidation" and I get a high dose of chemo for 3 hours every 12 hours.  This will continue for 4 months.  I am suppose to go home either Tuesday or Wednesday.  I will then come back every other day to the hospital to check my blood levels and get transfusions.  I am feeling pretty good, just tired right now.  As my levels start to drop this may change again.  Thanks again for all your love and support.  Love you all!

The Doctor felt like my levels had come up enough to come home.  I got to come home and it feels wonderful.  I am very weak and tired but it feels amazing to be home.  Hopefully I can keep all infection away so I don't have to go back into the hospital.  I have an appointment on Monday for another bone marrow biopsy.  This is to determine if the new bone marrow that I am producing has any cancer cells.  I will then start another round of chemo as a preventive.  I will keep you posted what we find out.  Thanks again for all your love and prayers.  I love and appreciate you all!

Dance Day fundraiser

I want to thank everyone so much for having this dance day.  You dancers rock!  and their moms too!  and all the family & friends!   You all rock!   I feel so very blessed to have so many amazing people supporting me in this Leukemia fight.  I feel of all your love and support.  I love you all!

The last few days have been very hard,  I have had high fevers, lots of bone pain from the bone marrow starting to build again,  I have been on a 24 hour platelet drip for days.  But today things have really been looking up,  My levels are starting to go up. My platelets are 38 all the way up from 5.  Normal is 150-400.  But everyone here thinks this is amazing!   If the levels continue to go up and I don't have any fevers they will let me go home soon!  Thanks so much for all your continued prayers and support.  I love you all!

So the doctors are saying I will be here at least another week maybe 2.  My bone marrow hasn't started producing like it needs to yet.  My platelets are very low and my body is not accepting the transfusions they have been giving me.  The blood bank should have a closer match by Monday.  I am very tired right now because my levels aren't coming up yet.  

Many of you have asked about donating so I finally have the info for you:

AML is a cancer of the blood and I have already received some blood transfusions to help keep my body functioning normally.  I will definitely need more in the future.  You can donate blood at ARUP,  We can’t guarantee that the blood will be for me, but it can replace the blood that I have used and will be given to other patients in need.  You can visit their website, www.utahblood.org, or contact them at (801)-584-5272 to set up a donation appointment.  This is also where you can donate platelets. 

 A donation account has been set up in my name “Niki Kearns Donation Fund” at Wells Fargo Bank account #7888206351.  This money will go to helping us pay for this expensive treatment and follow up.

Thank you for your continued love and support!  I love you all!