New Treatment Continues

Jill has now received three infusions of the immunosuppresant drug know as ATG without any apparent side effects. At the same time the doctors are able to reduce the level of steroids they were previously using to manage the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Sylvia reports that Jill is already regaining some of her strength and is able to walk more than she could earlier this week. Jill has also received two infusions as part of a trial of a new tissue regeneration therapy which could speed up Jill's recovery from the GVHD.

Things are getting back to normal for Jill and Sylvia again. Scott returned to Boise last Sunday, Harley arrived on Sunday and left on Wednesday and Tom returned to Missouri yesterday.

On Wednesday Jill received a banner with written messages from all her friends at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Boise which she is enjoying a great deal. Thank you to all Jill's many friends.

You may notice some minor changes to the Blog. I added a Links section and two new links. The first link is a short history of Jill's battle with Hodgkin's disease and the second is information about the new Jill Korn Benefit Fund which we have established for friends of Jill who want to make a contribution.

tom

Change in Treatment Plan

Since my last post Jill's condition has continued to improve slowly, but the doctors, anxious to reduce the impact of the graft versus host disease (GVHD), have changed the treatment plan. Yesterday (Monday) they added a new immune suppressing drug that should reduce the GVHD more effectively. In addition, Jill has been added to a trial procedure that involves the introduction of stem cells designed to hasten the repair to GVHD-damaged tissue in Jill's digestive tract. Jill received her first infusion of the stem cells this afternoon.

Back in the Hospital

On Monday Jill's doctors decided to hospitalize her since her graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) symptoms were not improving. Her digestive tract is inflamed and she simply can't effectively absorb the medication or nutrients when administered orally. In the hospital they are able give her all her nutrients and drugs intravenously, and continuously monitor and adjust her meds, nutrition and other conditions as needed. By Thursday the symptoms (diarrhea, dehydration and weight loss) had started to improve again. She is tired and weak but feeling better today. She is beginning to eat again.

On Wednesday I flew out to Seattle to help Sylvia, and Scott arrived on Thursday. I will stay here as long as I can help. Thank you all for your expressions of support.

tom

Blood Counts Improving

This week was better for Jill than the last few weeks have been. Tests this week confirmed that she is experiencing moderate graft versus host disease (GVHD). While the harsh symptoms of the GVHD have been hard on Jill, Sylvia has been monitoring her situation closely and the doctors have been able to reduce their impacts somewhat. Meanwhile, most of Jill's blood counts are rising rapidly which is positive. At the time of her last test, her new bone marrow was 87% engrafted.

Jill still spends most of every day at the clinic receiving IV fluids and drugs. Given the effects of the GVHD on her intestinal tract this has proven to be the best way to get most of the drugs she is taking and to stay hydrated.

In between the IV sessions, tests and other procedures, Jill gets some light exercise in order to maintain her physical condition. Spring has sprung in Seattle and they are looking forward to getting out a little more as Jill's condition permits.

tom

Five weeks out

It is now five weeks since the transplant, which is roughly one-third of the way through the expected recovery period. This week the doctors estimated that Jill's new bone marrow is about 85% engrafted. They haven't tested to see how much of her new marrow is from Sylvia, and how much, if any, remains of the marrow she received from her brother Harley. Once the marrow is more fully engrafted the doctors will do a biopsy to determine how complete the switch has been.

Jill continues to go into the clinic everyday between 8:00 and about 3:30 to receive IV fluids. As expected she is now experiencing GVHD (graft versus host disease) and is being treated for that. So far she has avoided all infections and each day that goes by allows her immunity levels to rise making infections less of a hazard. The GVHD causes discomfort but she is starting to feel a little better.

tom