Mrs. Wilson, you have acute leukemia

You could hear a pin drop. The doctor held my stare from across the small table and then looked at Mom. Don didn’t look at Gloria. I didn’t look at either one. We let the blood specialist speak, explaining his findings and subsequent results of recommended treatment. “I’m sorry to be blunt, but this is a diagnosis I cannot fool around with.” The air in the room followed Dr. V as he closed the door behind him, giving us a few minutes together. I inhaled slowly, smothering the urge to hold my breath.

The problem with finally knowing something is that we didn’t know everything. Even today, as we make it past the first 24 hour mark in the hospital there are still more tests, more evidence to prove and less chances that it’s simply a case of exhaustion. Dr. VenKatappa’s colleague Dr. Fein is a leukemia specialist at Baptist Hospital here in Miami, and he set us at ease during our first meeting. With great hesitancy he asked Mom for another (very painful) bone marrow biopsy. His sales pitch was that he thinks her condition might be a variant called APL which is easier to treat, but he needs to run more tests to support his theory.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of white blood cells, characterized by the rapid proliferation of abnormal cells which accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute leukemia affecting adults, and its incidence increases with age. Although AML is a relatively rare disease, accounting for approximately 1.2% of cancer deaths in the United States,[1] its incidence is expected to increase as the population ages.

The symptoms of AML are caused by replacement of normal bone marrow with leukemic cells, resulting in a drop in red blood cells, platelets, and normal white blood cells. These symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection.
Although several risk factors for AML have been identified, the specific cause of AML remains unclear. As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a potentially curable disease; but only a minority of patients are cured with current therapy. AML is treated initially with chemotherapy aimed at inducing a remission; some patients may go on to receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Dr. Fein will continue his research to confirm the diagnosis and hopefully begin her 7 day treatment on Monday. Measure twice, cut once. If she responds to the chemotherapy the bone marrow tissue will grow back and the condition will go into remission. She will need round the clock care for three weeks after, so our two week stay just doubled.

Gloria is in good health considering, so the doctor feels comfortable with her state. Progress is being made even as the body slowly regresses. The wings of spiritual understanding are spread wide and we are elevated higher when the winds pick up. So bring on the tropical storm – this old Conch family is weathered but not weary.