FLAMM FAM

Dear family and friends,
We heard back from the hospital.
When she relapsed in February, it was 80% cancer blasts in her bone marrow.  After the first round, it was 3.5%.  After the second round, it was 1.5%.  Ideally they hoped that the third round would take her to 0.001% or below. She did not quite make it there, but she did drop to 0.6% and her doctors still feel optimistic going ahead with transplant. 
They can't do another round of chemo at this point.  In the few days leading up to the transplant, she'll get 4 days of radiation and extremely high doses of chemotherapy she hasn't seen yet.  The hope is that it will destroy any cancer left in her marrow.
They are hoping to start things ASAP.  Originally, they were going to spend next week testing and admit Millie to the hospital on the 11th.  They're now going to start ASAP.  We'll probably be admitted mid to late next week.  They have already ordered the chord blood and are beginning preparations.
The fact that her cord blood is not a perfect match increases the chances that she'll have graft versus host disease, which could cause serious complications.  However, some graft versus host can be good as the new bone marrow can attack the cancer left in her body.  We're hoping that if she has graft versus host that it will kill any cancer left, but that it won't cause too much long term damage.
We're trying to stay positive about this, but the reality is, it isn't the news we were hoping for.  At the end of the day, what we have to remember, is that despite what the odds may be, she's not a statistic, she's an individual and a fighter.  We're going to do everything we can to beat this and pray for a miracle.
Thanks for all of your love and support,
Brady, Amanda, Millie, and Austin

Graft-versus-host disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which the newly transplanted material attacks the transplant recipient's body.