Saving Not Just Debbie.. But All Leukemia Friends

On 26th December 2009,

We understand now the agony of waiting...

For the right person to come forth as a bone marrow donor.

In the beginning, there was hope, as initial match was found in the US. Subsequently, further test shows that the the donor could not match Debbie's.

Before the news came, I really thought that all these will be over soon. Lo and behold, the doctors bring news not of glad tidings but shattered hopes. What can we do?

We can only continue to pray, be strong and courageous to face this unknown journey. Let the uncertainty soon be a certainty of hope, Be a bone marrow donor not just for Debbie but for all Leukemia friends.

Please, I urge you brothers, sisters, and friends regardless of you blood type. Do register yourselves as a donor to help us.

This is the greatest gift one can give, the gift of life to live...

Bills Bills Bills... Still Ok But Running Out Soon...

Here comes the bill from SGH. This is for the month of October 2009. The bill for November 2009 has yet to arrive.

We thank God that she still has the basic medishield plan. It will soon be running out as there is an annual limit of $50,000 and a lifetime limit of $200,000.

This plan has been with her since during Lupus days. It has been drawn upon during her hospitalisation in 1997-98.

Cost for the bone marrow transplant will definitely be beyond our means.

We will continue to trust that God will move the hearts of many in helping us raise the right amount at the right time.

Home For Christmas...Hurray

On 21st December 2009,

News from the doctor that the bone marrow did not match Debbie's. The search continues...

After the bag of blood has been completed, She is finally heading home for Christmas.

Had a good meal at parents' place... Home at last.

I will be attending to her as she is home and may not be able to update promptly.

Please pray with me for a suitable donor to be found...

Have A Very Merry Christmas

Back To Almost Normal

On 20th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 6.8 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 4.26 (4-11) Platelet 61,000 (150,000-440,000)

Thank God for bringing her senses back again. Need a little time to recover, like her handwriting is back but tend to skip a line either by reading or writing.

She is eating, talked normal. Her haemoglobin is low thus, a bag of blood is needed.

Home here we come soon....

Counts Update

On 19th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.0 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 4.84 (4-11) Platelet 12,000 (150,000-440,000)

Complication Started On Monday

On 18th December 2009,

It all begin on 14th December 2009 Monday, she realised that she was speaking to herself. Thought it was not a big deal, we kinda brush it away.

Tuesday morning, she begin to feel trembling when holding both hands forward. Her communication skills slows substantially, requires prompting. Am I loosing her. What is happening. All seems well and suddenly....

Evening came, This was the most frightening time I ever encountered, apart from what has been described earlier, this time it was worse than before. She almost could not tell her right from left. She almost totally lost her senses. I was devastated, broke down in tears. She tried very hard to recall what had happened, but was in vain. Doctors ordered MRI, called in the Rheumatology Doctors, Neurology Doctors, and the Psychiatrist the next day.

She had this trembling experience when she was on very high dose of steroid during her Lupus days in 1997. Apart from this, she had numbness in her lips area, that leads to Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA, i.e Stroke) in her earlier days with Lupus.

Doctors could not conclude what was the cause. It could be Lupus, TIA, Drug overdose or allergy.

Thank you all for praying with me for Debbie that the MRI results came and it shows that all is clear.

A great relief. She is much better today. She is beginning to gain back her usual self.

Please pray with me, that nothing was damage during this episode. Swelling in her legs will subside, gain back her complete self again and will be home for Christmas....

Counts Update

On 18th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.4 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 2.72 (4-11) Platelet 12,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 17th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.1 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 1.73 (4-11) Platelet 17,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 16th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 9.0 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.94 (4-11) Platelet 28,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 15th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.8 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.72 (4-11) Platelet 6,000 (150,000-440,000)

Extra Extra... Read All About It

On 14th December 2009

Preliminary bone marrow match FOUND!! Further in-depth match required.

An initial match was found under the bone marrow donor's international registry. We were informed that this match was found in USA. A little far and more costly, but there is hope...

Pray with me that this will be a full match for Debbie and that this person is willing to go through the donation procedure during this festive season....

Due To Too Much Diarrhea

On 14th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 9.8 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.62 (4-11) Platelet 13,000(150,000-440,000)

There were pain and abrasion in her bum due to excessive diarrhea. Doctors suspected that this may be the cause of her having fever. She may require minor surgery to remove the pus once it is form as right now there is no presence of pus due to low counts.

As she is schedule for MRI in her pelvic area, pray for good results so that she do not need to go for this minor procedure.

Counts Update

On 13th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 10.5 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.38 (4-11) Platelet 21,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 12th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 9.4 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.28 (4-11) Platelet 41,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 11th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 7.7 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.19 (4-11) Platelet 18,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 10th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.4 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.17 (4-11) Platelet 13,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 9th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.7 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.16 (4-11) Platelet 26,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 8th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 7.7 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.14 (4-11) Platelet 49,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 7th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.1 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.17 (4-11) Platelet 14,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 6th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 9.1 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.17 (4-11) Platelet 25,000 (150,000-440,000)

Bottoming Out

On 5th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 7.2 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.20 (4-11) Platelet 8,000 (150,000-440,000)

Still having diarrhea, fever is back again, coughing.

Counts are low, prayerfully it will pick up soon.

Counts Update

On 4th December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.7 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.20 (4-11) Platelet 18,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 3rd December 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 9.3 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.30 (4-11) Platelet 28,000 (150,000-440,000)

Absence Makes The Heart Grows...

On 2nd Dec 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.8 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.35 (4-11) Platelet 32,000 (150,000-440,000)

Her condition is much better this time round. Know what to expect, kind of ease the tension. Still having diarrhea, cough now and then, but rashes has subsided.

The Lord has brought us this far, holding to His promises that He will never forsake or desert us, both in happy and sad times.

We appreciate your prayers, emotional, physical and financial support.

Till this day, the doctors have yet to find a bone marrow donor. Please continue to uphold her in prayer to find a donor soon.

Those lonely nights will be over soon, the yearn for her being with me grows... Home coming in about 9 days time.

Counts Update

On 1st Dec 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.9 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.28 (4-11) Platelet 46,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 30th Nov 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 7.4 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.22 (4-11) Platelet 10,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 29th Nov 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.1 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.25 (4-11) Platelet 19,000 (150,000-440,000)

Counts Update

On 28th Nov 2009,

Her counts are as follows(Normal range in brackets):

Haemoglobin 8.4 (11.5-16.5), White Cells 0.32 (4-11) Platelet 30,000 (150,000-440,000)