I had a bone marrow biopsy in January and was diagnosed with MODERATE AA. By my 5th month of pregnacy I required blood and platlets weekly. I was induced at 34 weeks so that the doctors could control the birth. My son Linden was born healthy 6lbs 8oz on July 27th 1995. My brother was then typed for a possible transplant, he did not match. I then had ATG that October, I had a minimal response, which put my counts at a stable level but by no means normal. I went on with life seeing my doctors every 6 months. In September of 1999, everything changed. My counts dropped very low and in December I had ATG again, this time with no response. 

We tried Eprex injections for two months, and nothing seemed to be working. I was having blood every 5 or 6 days and my ferritin was climbing through the roof.( 7500) In August 2000, I was faced with the decision to transplant or not. It was very risky because of the ATG treatments and the massive amounts of blood products I had received. The fact that I was 26 was an advantage, and they found a very good match for me on the registry. We decided to go ahead and go for it. I was put on desferal to try to lower my iron level as much as we could so the strain on my liver might be less. 

On Valentines' day 2001 I had my MUD transplant, and it was the best thing I ever did!!!! It is such a personal journey with decisions that are only your own, but it can work and work well. I was in hospital for 5 1/2 weeks and they were hard weeks, but I never gave up I always tried to find something good about the day, family support and a positive attitude, you can get through anything. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything, this disease has given me gifts and taught me lessons that I will take with me always, but best of all in the end I BEAT IT! It's been a part of my life for so long, I have met some amazing people and made some great friends along the way, and the day that I meet my donor will me truly magical. 

I am now past my 100th day ( boy that felt good) I have had no GVH and my counts are slowly climbing to normal, I can rollerblade with my son, and do things I haven't done in so long, and best of all I haven't had a transfusion since I was dicharged on March 19th 2001!!!! I will be forever grateful to the man who gave me my second chance, and donated his marrow. For all of you in the fight, never lose hope always look for some good even if it seems so small. So many people helped me along the way, it's web sites like this that make a difference and connect us all together, my prayers are with all of you and your families. Here is one of my favorite qoutes: " If you can learn to laugh in spite of your circumstances that surround you, you will enrich others, enrich yourself, and more than that, you will last."