Jacqueline Gardner's Story
On March 5, 2007 I was rushed to my local hospital. I was experiencing extreme anemia, the inability to walk, extreme head pain, and chest heaviness. Every joint in by body ached severly. I began to have an abnormal period and severe stomach pain/external Bleeding. I literally thought I was going to die. While at the hospital numerous blodd transfusions were given to me. A bone Marrow Biopsy was conducted. I was told that my Bone Marrow had literally stopped working.
I was then rushed my Ambulance to the Albany Medical Center of Albany , New York; where the New York Oncology Hematology Associates Physicians began to run immediate tests for a Bone Marrow Match Donor (For a Bone Marrow Transplant). Unfortunately, a match was never found and the doctors could not proceed with a Bone Marrow Transplant,
The Doctors treated my disease/illness first with Atgam Horse Serum, that was not successful. I was then placed on a regime of Cyclosporin and Blood Transfusions. This treatment did not go at all well either. Finally, my Hematologist Team: Dr. Peter Burkkart, Dr. Rouch, Dr, Dunn, had received approval for me to receive the new PNH Treatment Drug known as Soliris.
I have been receiving Soliris intervenously since 2008. It has done quite well with battling PNH, though I still remain Severly Anemic, I am stable and my blood counts are good accoring to standards for those individuals suffering from such illnesses. Though they have yet to reach normal human being blood count levels and most likely will not.
I am however, stable, independant a,nd as active as I can be, living and enjoying life as much as I can, the best way I know how.
I am most thankful to the team of Medical Professional who saved my life, my family, dear friends, and now to the Hudson Valley Cancer Treatment Center; whose Hematologist, Dr, Ram Kancherla keeps me alive and "kickin" as they say. God Bless them all and Best Wishes to all of you.
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