Saturday, December 26, 2015

MRD results "I don't wanna write that blog post"

We finally got the call with the MRD results on Christmas Eve from Dr. Smith.  Not the Christmas present we were hoping for though.

After lots of talking Tiffany said, "Well, who's gonna write that blog post?" Neither of of really wanted but it has to be done.

Basically the MRD ( results weren't as promising as he had hoped (translation: chemo alone isn't going to work.  Secondary translation: Abby will need a bone-marrow transplant or more).

They wanted the MRD (minimal residual disease) to be less than 1 in 10,000.  Abby's test showed 2.8% or 280 cancer cells out of 10,000.

We don't have much information on the future but here is what we kind of know.  Abby will continue the Block 2 protocol and probably the Block 3 cycle of chemo to get continue to kill her cancer.  Then somewhere this winter or spring she'll be transferred to the bone marrow transplant team.  Once they have a matched donor they will do a set of intense chemo and x-ray treatments.  The bone marrow will then be infused into her like a blood transfusion, it will make it's way to her bone marrow and graft in and then start to produce new blood for Abby.

One pro is that a bone marrow transplant is a significantly shorter process then 2.5 years of chemo but it will be intense.  6 or more weeks in the hospital is all we know at this point.  But if all goes well, she'll be done by the fall, maybe earlier.  Children's Hospital in Colorado is one of the top bone marrow transplant centers so I know we are in good hands.  They might decide something different when the leukemia team meets on Wednesday but it seems like the bone marrow transplant is the most likely.

We are just trying to take it 1 day at a time right now.  I don't have enough brain and emotional energy to look much further ahead than that.  We had a good Christmas morning and have 2 more days here at home before we have to check back in to the hospital for a 5 day stay.  The week after that are clinic infusions for 4-5 hours each day and then we'll have another little break (though she may spike a fever in there and have to go back to the hospital again).  Either way, we are going to enjoy our next couple of days at home!

Hopefully you had a good Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.  Take care and we'll post more as we know more.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark and Tiffany,

We are so sorry to hear that the test results weren't everything you had hoped for. But we have great hope that the bone marrow transfusion will be the best route for her to take and it will lead to a complete recovery. You are all constantly in our thoughts.

Lin

Unknown said...

The initial positive I can see, and I may be wrong, is that maybe the bone marrow will result in less needles than the continuous chemo route?

Schreiber family, may you each be blessed with peace that bubbles from your soul & joy to give you strength in Jesus name!

Amy Eby said...

Dear Schreiber family, you are in our prayers daily. We have been so blessed hearing your story of coming to Japan to serve along side of the Cervenka family, and even though you are still struggling through the meaning of everything that took place in your journey to Japan and back again, we can be assured that it was not in vain!! We are cheering Abby on here in Gifu, Japan and will continue to pray for you during this journey.

With hope in the Redemption found in Jesus,
Caleb, Amy, Enoch and Micah Eby

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you guys a lot. Stay strong. Roy and Etusko