Treatment

For the past 3 wks, I think it's safe to say we have spent most of our days researching Aplastic Anemia.

I knew when Bella was diagnosed with this, Matt would know anything & everything about it.

The more we researched it, the more we realized that there were more than one option when it came 

to treating Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia.

Bella's Dr.'s have suggested a line of treatment using ATG/Cyclosporine, 

but we wanted to make sure that was the best treatment for her.

ATG/Cyclosporine is the gold standard across the country, and has great outcomes.

But we also found that Johns Hopkins offers a different first line of treatment using High Dose Cytoxin-

which has also had promising results, even though it is more intense up front.

Uncle Craigy has been an amazing help in researching these treatments, and has been so dedicated in

helping us find the right treatment for Bella.

I am so so grateful for him and his love for Isabella, it means more to me than he will ever know!

Matt also found a few clinical trials through the NHI that we found interesting.

With so many options, my mind has been going non-stop...especially at night.

We both felt like we needed to talk to all the different Dr.'s offering different treatments, 

and then taking them and presenting them to Bella's current Dr.'s.

We knew that once we did this, and once we sat down and talked them over-

we would have a better feel as to which one to choose.

I have never been more uncertain and worried about making the right decision.

All of the treatment options have about a 85% chance of working.

The bad news is about 10% relapse, 10% can get Leukemia, and 10% get MDS.

When you think of her relapsing, or getting another blood disease as serious as these, your heart stops.

I think that has been the hardest fact to deal with in all this...not knowing what the outcome will be.

Dr. Fair called us Tuesday morning and told us after reviewing all the treatments and presenting them

to 4 other Oncologists/Hematologists-

the vote was unanimous that the best treatment in their opinions was still ATG/Cyclosporine.

"Patients are put through significant risk of invasive infection and prolonged hospital stays. 

Why do that when the outcomes are similar/better with CSP?ATG?"- BMT doctor.

Dr. Fair once again told us that he felt this was still the best treatment as well, and he felt good about it.

We respect and appreciate his opinion and know he wants whats best for Bella as well.

After hearing this unanimous vote, and reading the reasons from the other doctors, it started giving me peace.

To see ALL the doctors come to the same conclusion was a sign, but I needed to know for MYSELF.

I have felt this all along, that no matter what treatment we did for her, I NEEDED to know it was right.

After talking it over with Matt some more, we both felt peaceful about going down that path.

We knelt and prayed, and asked Heavenly Father if choosing this treatment would be the right thing for Bella.

We felt peace, we felt comfort.  We sat there holding hands, and just waiting.

I have never wanted a more clear answer in my life.  I have never feared an outcome more than this.

As I knelt there waiting,  having faith that I would KNOW, I felt Heavenly Father's arms around me.

He was there comforting me in the hardest trial of my life.

"Do not fear, I am with thee".

Those are the words that were told to me, and those are the words that I will repeat every time I fear.

I know that this is the treatment that is right for Bella.

I know that whatever comes our way, Heavenly Father is with me.

I don't know what next week will bring starting this, and I don't know what the outcome will be...

but I do know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer.  

I know that he is with me, and knowing that I am able to concur my fears.

I have faith that Bella can be and will be healed.