UAMS

Somehow, UAMS worked it out with my insurance to come out and get treatment there.  They called me on a Friday and told me they wanted me there on a Monday.  My parents watched the girls, Chris closed down the shop for the following week, and we headed out the very next day.  Due to covid, Chris was not able to enter the hospital with me for all of the testing but they made an exception for him to accompany me for the meeting with the doctor at the end of the week.  It was nice having him around. He can always comfort me and make me laugh when I need it the most.  When we met with the doctor, they confirmed what we already knew- stage 3 (most advanced stage for myeloma), high risk, and aggressive.  I would likely need chemo for life and the prognosis was not very promising.  This doctor would not give me a prognosis but told me I would probably not be in remission for very long.  Then he went over the “plan.”  I would return in 2 weeks and we would get started.  They would give me induction chemo and collect stem cells which would be about a month.  I would go home for 2 weeks.  I would return and have the first transplant and stay in Arkansas for about another month.  Then I would return home for a few weeks.  I would come back for the second transplant for another month.  I would return home for 2 weeks.  I would come back and have consolidation chemo.  I would go home for 2 weeks.  I would come back for testing and the start of maintenance, then I would return home. My head was spinning and I couldn’t help but tear up thinking about all of the time I would miss with my new baby at home.  I would be missing the whole first year of her life.  I would essentially be living in Arkansas for the whole year with short trips back home in between the long months away.  I started having second thoughts.  I didn’t think I could stand being isolated from my family that long.  But what choice did I have?  I wanted the best shot at survival and this was it.  I agreed to the plan but begged for longer than 2 weeks to get started.  I had to figure out childcare.  I had to file for medical leave from my job.  There were a lot of things I needed to get into place before spending almost a whole year in Arkansas.  My doctor told me we had to start in 2 weeks.  He said he was already shocked my whole spine hadn’t collapsed with the condition I was in.  He said the matter was urgent and I was in very bad condition.  We needed to act fast.  Family and friends jumped in to help and we got everything figured out for me to be able to receive treatment in Arkansas.