April 28, 2020 · from Lesley’s original CaringBridge journal
We covered both ends of the spectrum yesterday! Sunday my doctor cut me loose from Patty (24 hour fluids) so I was free – well….I decided to act up. About 3AM Monday morning I woke up not feeling well. I was a bit nauseated, felt woozy, a little shivery and had to go to the bathroom. I called for someone to come be my bathroom monitor. I did not feel good, when I was coming out of the bathroom apparently I passed out – I don’t remember part of this. Thankfully I had someone to catch me and I never fell. Next thing I know the entire staff was in my room – I looked around, there were two doctors, tons of nurses, a respiratory therapist all working on me, asking me questions – it was a bit scary at this point. My blood pressure was through the roof. I sat back in the bed and listened to everyone talk about me – apparently I was non-responsive for a bit. But here’s the good I saw in this incident – since we have had the no visitors policy I have gotten to know my team so much more than I think I would have otherwise. We talk about our families, we share the mundane things of the day, we share our struggles, they linger a little longer, they come in to help more since I don’t have someone with me. One thing I heard several of the nurses say was “she didn’t sound like herself, this wasn’t normal, she usually is like this and she was not like that” they know me, and I know them. I think our closer relationship helped them better assess the situation and pick up on small things quicker. That made me smile. After the sky high blood pressure, I decided to have crazy low blood pressures just for fun. Thankfully they have leveled back out to normal. Well, after that little incident I was put in bed jail – they turned my bed alarm on and I have not been allowed to get up without calling someone first. I am hoping to get that lifted today.
Enough of that, on to the good stuff! Dr. Kota came in yesterday afternoon to let me know that MY BIOPSY WAS CLEAN!!! He said that they are looking for three things: the amount of marrow to be between 5 and 10 (mine was), the percentage of blast cells (immature white blood cells) to be less than 5% (mine was less than 3%), and then they stain to look for leukemia cells (they didn’t see any). This was the preliminary report, the final one may show slightly different results but either way this is fabulous news! I will have one more biopsy in two weeks and if it is clean I can skip the second round of “consolidation” chemo and move straight to transplant. This would be great because they don’t want me to have more chemo than is absolutely necessary (especially since we think that is what triggered this in the first place). We need me to be fever free and be rid of this infection so that I can start all my preliminary work ups. The donor is beginning hers as well. We did find out that because of stupid COVID (those were the words of my transplant coordinator) we will not be able to do bone marrow and will have to do stem cells – but this is NOT bad and does NOT change the likelihood of a good outcome. She said that no one wants to give marrow anymore so either way this woman is a saint. They normally give the marrow fresh but because of COVID they will have to freeze it and they are concerned that in freezing the marrow we would loose to many stem cells, so to assure that we get as many stem cells as possible we will do the stem cell transplant instead.
Guys and gals – the Lord is doing amazing things. Please don’t miss that. No, this is not fun. Those who know me well personally know that I don’t do a good job of hiding my feelings. If I am having a bad day I will let you know, but God is answering our prayers over and above what we are asking. That eclipses the bad ever so much. I can’t help but be amazed at what I am seeing Him do every day.
Specific prayer requests for now:
- Praise Him for what He has done so far
- Ursula – oh my word she has overstayed her welcome and needs to go away
- let’s go on and start praying for that biopsy in two weeks
- the preliminary testing for my donor and me to go well
- my fevers and infection to go away – my doctors and I are so over that drama
love to you all,
Lesley
Comments from CaringBridge
Linda Wick — 4/29/20
You are so strong, Lesley!! Praying for you and your family every day!! I am Lisa Cronic’s friend who had breast cancer surgery in February. I know you prayed for me….thank you!!
Susan Leonhard — 4/29/20
We continue to pray for you and all the Letson clan! Rejoicing in God’s goodness and looking to Him for your complete healing! Sending our love❤️
Gina Shealy — 4/29/20
Lesley, I only know about your journey because Donna Hill asked me to pray for you— she told me what an amazing lady, wife and mom you are, and I so see that in your posts… thank you for being real about this journey. May the Lord continue to be present with you.. to use this and this time to honor His Name. May the doctors and nurses and all involved see His hand at work and want to know Him. And may the Lord work and move in the lives of your donor, your husband, and sweet children.
Nancy Sullivan — 4/28/20
Praying daily for you, Leslie! You are so courageous and an example for us all!
Amber Bruce Telleen — 4/28/20
This is wonderful news! I’m trilled! I also wanted to let you know that I shared your story with Hayley and Joy Watts. They are in quarantine with their parents and all are praying for you too! They wanted me to extend a hello and well wishes.
Elizabeth Long Williams — 4/28/20
Lesley, I just heard about you last Sunday while we were having a ladies discipleship meeting on Zoom! I am a nurse & I just retired at the end of December! I loved your Journal & I could relate to a lot of it on both sides from working in hospitals most of my career! I am also a breast cancer survivor & was diagnosed in March 2007, the same kind my mom had & she had to have a right mastectomy. There are many kinds of breast cancer, but I was told we had a very treatable kind & my mom lived to be 85! Because of medical advances they gave me a choice of left mastectomy or lumpectomy & 90 days of radiation treatment! I choose the lumpectomy & I am still in remission! Yay! I turned 70 in November & I plan on living a long healthy life, with God’s help! I just wanted to share with you that our God is an awesome God & He loves us all, as if there were only one of us & more than we could ever imagine! My favorite scripture is “Fear not for I am with you & I will never leave you or forsake you”! My husband Bill & I are both praying for you & your precious family, all of the medical staff caring for you & all of the other patients on your Unit! God’s got this! 😇💜🌼💜
Patti Garretson — 4/28/20
Lesley, you are so right, God is at work. He first gave you the best doctor in Dr. Kota, second the staff there is so caring and on top of everything and third He himself is in control. You are continually in my prayers.
Lynne Veazey — 4/28/20
Praying for you and your boys. God is in control!
LeeAnn Wildman — 4/28/20
Lesley, we haven’t met in person but have many mutual friends. I pray for you often and love reading your updates. I celebrate with you and praise God for the way He is answering prayers on your behalf. I join you in praying for relief from fever, infection, and Ursala as well as favorable biopsy reports and successful stem cell transplant. You are so inspiring, and I love your sense of humor in the midst of this difficult trial. One day, I hope we can meet. Until then just know I already count you as a friend and a fellow sister in Christ, and I am cheering for you, praying for you, and hoping with you for complete healing! Much love… LeeAnn Wildman
Traci Lewis — 4/28/20
God is so good!! Continued prayers for you and your boys!
alan motter — 4/28/20
Oh my you are so strong my dear friend love and prayers for you and your family 🌄
Ditte Sorknaes — 4/28/20
Hoping and praying for you every day ❤️😘
Krista Shook — 4/28/20
Praise the Lord! Still praying. As someone who has passed out more then her fair share and not caught once – I know the damage that can cause and am once again praising the Lord you were caught! That in and of itself is a miracle and a reprieve!
Donna Hill — 4/28/20
I am so grateful for the good news. Please know that we love you and that we will pray specially and hard for the requests you mentioned. Continue to fight hard!
Cathy Del Toro — 4/28/20
Praise God for the good results, Lesley! Hang in there you will be out of there and home again before you know it. God loves you so!
Mindy Stirling — 4/28/20
I’m praying for each thing to be over abundantly answered on your behalf for God’s complete glory to be shown off. He loves you. He’s showing Himself to each person on this journey you are on. He’s mighty and we can trust Him.
Becky Holton — 4/28/20
Praying everything goes well in the next weeks! You are very courageous and you lift my spirits. Love and hugs!
Debbie Butts — 4/28/20
Continuing prayers Lesley!
Cancermamma 