Greetings From Israel
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From: encino
Greetings From Israel
As many of you have heard, the last few weeks have been quite an adventure for me and my family. Everything from finding out my cancer relapsed to finding out that the 1st and 2nd rounds of additional chemo did nothing in terms of achieving a second remission.
After speaking to numerous Hematologists and Oncologists about my specific diagnosis, I was not left with many options. Not only were my choices on therapy limited, but my disease was spreading at a rapid pace. I was forced to make an extreme desicion and was forced to make it fast.
A few of the Docs I spoke with led me to a Professor here in Israel that is doing some groundbreaking work with Leukemia mainly with Bone Marrow Transplants. He has been on the cutting edge of new techniques and protocols that are just starting to make head way in the states. He has been practicing these same techniques with success for the past 18 years. Once I spent a few moments on the phone with him I knew that my only hope for survival was here with him.
I just arrived on Thursday and they have already starting preparing me for my transplant. Because I don't have a match in terms of ALH typing, my case is a tricky one. Unfortunately, my brother was not a complete match which is why no doctor in the states was able to help me out. The team here is working on using half matches instead of complete matches to do the transplant. I wont get into the details of why they go this route but suffice to say that they are gaining more and more evidence that for specific Leukemias such as mine, the half match may actually work better than a complete match. Something to do with Graft vs Host disease and Graft vs. Leukemia for you that are interested. So I phoned my bro immediately (yesterday) and got him on the first plane out of NY to Israel. He will be arriving later tonight. Tomorrow they will start removing cells from him to prepare me for my induction phase and transplant. I am not 100% on my entire protocol as of now (everything is moving so fast) but as I can see it, I should be getting my transplant within the next 2 weeks. If I stayed in the states the soonest I would be able to get a transplant would have been 3 months. At the rate my blasts are increasing in my blood I wont survive 3 weeks without the transplant.
I don't my chances at this point of being cured as I really don't care. All I know is that I would have no chance if I stayed where I was and that I at least have hope here. The team of doctors working with me are incredible and extremely in sync. I have total faith in them and know that I am in the right place.
I just wanted to tell those of you that have been following along and have helped with donations, the blood drives and marrow drives and all those that have dropped notes of encouragement that it has meant the world to me. I never thought that I would find so much support and love from the members of the board. Even from members that I have never met. NOt that I ever doubted any of you its just that the response has been overwhelming. I never treated anyone in my life or my business in a manner that I would not have wanted to be treated myself. To have it all come back around to me has truly put my soul at ease. I realize now that even with all the negativity and sadness that you see on the news everyday that there still are amazing and truly altruistic people in this world. It has made all the difference for me throughout this entire time I have been sick. Your words, letters, books and cards etc... have continuously pushed me and motivated me to fight and beat this disease no matter what I have to go through. There is nothing more gratifying than loving and being loved.
I will do my best to keep up with the forum and keep you guys updated with my progression but as you can guess, the next few weeks are going to be very very difficult physically. I will of course be in contact with my amazing woman who has done an amazing job of keeping you guys up to date and keeping my head on straight. So you guys wont be too far out of the loop, those of you that care at least
I just want to say thank you. don't ever stop giving. don't wait until its too late. You have no idea of how much of a difference even the smallest of gestures can make in someones life. No matter what happens to me in the next few weeks nothing can take away from the friends, relationships and experiences I have shared with many of you. In all the corniest of ways, that truly gives me a complete feeling. don't count me out though, I will be back. Count on it. I have shared many memories with many of you and there are many more to be had. I will be back!!!
After speaking to numerous Hematologists and Oncologists about my specific diagnosis, I was not left with many options. Not only were my choices on therapy limited, but my disease was spreading at a rapid pace. I was forced to make an extreme desicion and was forced to make it fast.
A few of the Docs I spoke with led me to a Professor here in Israel that is doing some groundbreaking work with Leukemia mainly with Bone Marrow Transplants. He has been on the cutting edge of new techniques and protocols that are just starting to make head way in the states. He has been practicing these same techniques with success for the past 18 years. Once I spent a few moments on the phone with him I knew that my only hope for survival was here with him.
I just arrived on Thursday and they have already starting preparing me for my transplant. Because I don't have a match in terms of ALH typing, my case is a tricky one. Unfortunately, my brother was not a complete match which is why no doctor in the states was able to help me out. The team here is working on using half matches instead of complete matches to do the transplant. I wont get into the details of why they go this route but suffice to say that they are gaining more and more evidence that for specific Leukemias such as mine, the half match may actually work better than a complete match. Something to do with Graft vs Host disease and Graft vs. Leukemia for you that are interested. So I phoned my bro immediately (yesterday) and got him on the first plane out of NY to Israel. He will be arriving later tonight. Tomorrow they will start removing cells from him to prepare me for my induction phase and transplant. I am not 100% on my entire protocol as of now (everything is moving so fast) but as I can see it, I should be getting my transplant within the next 2 weeks. If I stayed in the states the soonest I would be able to get a transplant would have been 3 months. At the rate my blasts are increasing in my blood I wont survive 3 weeks without the transplant.
I don't my chances at this point of being cured as I really don't care. All I know is that I would have no chance if I stayed where I was and that I at least have hope here. The team of doctors working with me are incredible and extremely in sync. I have total faith in them and know that I am in the right place.
I just wanted to tell those of you that have been following along and have helped with donations, the blood drives and marrow drives and all those that have dropped notes of encouragement that it has meant the world to me. I never thought that I would find so much support and love from the members of the board. Even from members that I have never met. NOt that I ever doubted any of you its just that the response has been overwhelming. I never treated anyone in my life or my business in a manner that I would not have wanted to be treated myself. To have it all come back around to me has truly put my soul at ease. I realize now that even with all the negativity and sadness that you see on the news everyday that there still are amazing and truly altruistic people in this world. It has made all the difference for me throughout this entire time I have been sick. Your words, letters, books and cards etc... have continuously pushed me and motivated me to fight and beat this disease no matter what I have to go through. There is nothing more gratifying than loving and being loved.
I will do my best to keep up with the forum and keep you guys updated with my progression but as you can guess, the next few weeks are going to be very very difficult physically. I will of course be in contact with my amazing woman who has done an amazing job of keeping you guys up to date and keeping my head on straight. So you guys wont be too far out of the loop, those of you that care at least
I just want to say thank you. don't ever stop giving. don't wait until its too late. You have no idea of how much of a difference even the smallest of gestures can make in someones life. No matter what happens to me in the next few weeks nothing can take away from the friends, relationships and experiences I have shared with many of you. In all the corniest of ways, that truly gives me a complete feeling. don't count me out though, I will be back. Count on it. I have shared many memories with many of you and there are many more to be had. I will be back!!!
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It is great hearing from you "Sure-Win!"
I dont really have much to say except that you are in my prayers and that you are truly an inspiration not only to me but to the rest of this community.
Keep on fighting!
trung.
I dont really have much to say except that you are in my prayers and that you are truly an inspiration not only to me but to the rest of this community.
Keep on fighting!
trung.
Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 1
From: Mission Viejo, CA
I've been following up with the updates your wife has been leaving on here, and all I have to say is "Fight on!" It aint never over till you give up, and it seems me, thats how you feel too.
My prayers will be with you.
-Jeff
My prayers will be with you.
-Jeff
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Now, go take care of business and come on back to So Cal Brotha 
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Joined: Nov 2004
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SHER-MAN-ATE-HER,
FURRY LITTLE BUDDY, MY FRIEND. MELISSA AND I AND THE WHOLE CREW PRAY FOR YOU ALL THE TIME. I WOULD LIKE IF I SAID, READING YOUR LETTER ABOVE DIDN'T BRING A TEAR TO MY EYE. BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO TURN THOSE TEARS INTO HAPPY TEARS, WHEN I SEE YOU NEXT.
TAKE CARE LITTLE BUDDY AND WE ARE ONLY A POST AWAY, A CALL AWAY, ETC...
BILLY AND MELISSA
FURRY LITTLE BUDDY, MY FRIEND. MELISSA AND I AND THE WHOLE CREW PRAY FOR YOU ALL THE TIME. I WOULD LIKE IF I SAID, READING YOUR LETTER ABOVE DIDN'T BRING A TEAR TO MY EYE. BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO TURN THOSE TEARS INTO HAPPY TEARS, WHEN I SEE YOU NEXT.
TAKE CARE LITTLE BUDDY AND WE ARE ONLY A POST AWAY, A CALL AWAY, ETC...
BILLY AND MELISSA
