I just got off the phone with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I have been pre-approved to enter their stem-cell transplant program starting in two weeks. I will enter the program on May 1st. On that day, they will start the process of harvesting my own stem-stem cells. For the next few weeks my own, defective, bone marrow will be burned out with high dose chemotherapy. Then, my stem-cells will be re-infused. Following this, I will have a few weeks for my immune system to recover. Hopefully, I will be discharged on August 9th. I will either be an in-patient at the University of Washington or having to live nearby for daily appointments during this entire 100-day period.
Stem cell transplant, while having its own dangers (considering my own brother has been seriously ill for the past month, in ICU, as he had a bad out-come from the process), if I follow the statistics, I could have 7 years + of cancer “free” (not cured but controlled) living. During this time, I’m quite confident that a cure for this awful disease will be found.
Thanks for your prayers. I still need my kidneys to recover as well as my neurological problems, associated with my renal failure.
Mike
J. Michael Jones 
10 responses to “UPDATE:4/17/19”
Great new Mile.
LikeLike
Great news, Mike!
LikeLike
Thrilled for you! A chink appears in the monstrous wall impeding your path to a possibly favorable outcome…
LikeLike
Excellent news!!!
LikeLike
We will miss you while you are gone but great and hopeful news. I think they will do this on 7th floor where my niece works. She was the one that got us in to SCCA so quickly. Her name is Anne Reese
LikeLike
Oh Mike this is good news! Scary, yes, long haul but a beginning for hope of life to be prolonged until a cure. Step by step, day by day and we pray🙏🙏🙏🙏
LikeLike
Yes! More prayers being said for you and Denise that this new adventure has a healthy outcome.
LikeLike
Mike and Denise,
Reid and I were so happy to read about your acceptance into the stem cell program. That is amazing news. So, I came home last night and asked Reid how we might be able to help with your stay in Seattle.
Mike, last night you told me you have to stay on campus or downtown. I am wondering if our townhome at 122 St. (about ten minutes from downtown) would work? If so, would the two of you like the condo for the month of June? We are going to be out of town and would love to have you use it. Mike, when you have to be in the hospital, Denise, if would be a place close by for you to sleep well and have some privacy. And, it certainly beats a hotel room! We are right behind Northwest General Hospital in the BItterlake area, (right across 5 from Northgate mall.) The townhome is in this little secluded area with beautiful trees. Our place is on a little green belt with a wonderful porch, perfect for morning coffee. And….it is really quiet there.
So, if that would help, we would be so happy to help. We might also have blocks of time in July, but just don’t have our calendar settled down yet for that month.
If this sounds like a good idea, consider it is deal 🙂
So happy for this great news for the two of you.
Regards.
Ann Ann Hutchinson Meyers, Ph.D. Annmeyers@gmail.com 210-213-0320
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
>
LikeLike
That is great news Mike!. Will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
LikeLike
Wonderful news….over another hurdle- on to the next 🙂
LikeLike