Anita's Diagnosis

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a group of myeloid (bone marrow) stem cell disorders that gradually affect the ability of a person’s bone marrow to produce normal red and white blood cells, and platelets. Without these blood cells, we cannot get oxygen to the body or fight off infection.  MDS is a group of diseases that have many differences and can be difficult to diagnose. With some types of MDS, a person may live with a few symptoms for years, while other types can be life-threatening within months.

Most often the cause of the changes to the bone marrow is unknown. But MDS can also be caused by treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy for other diseases. Anita has received this type of treatment for many years in fighting cancer.  Treatment-related MDS is often more severe and difficult to treat.  Although the type of MDS can help predict the course of a person’s disease, people with the same type of MDS may respond to the disease and to treatment differently.  There is no definitive cure of treatment for MDS. Instead, most people receive supportive care to manage symptoms such as fatigue and to prevent bleeding and infections.

While we could go into more detail about the disease itself, our current concern is with Anita and how she is progressing.  She has been a patient in Mayo Clinic this past week. She is very weak and has difficulty focusing her thoughts. She appears to be free of infection.  It has been decided that she will receive intravenous feeding as she is not getting the nutrition she needs to progress toward healing. This will, hopefully, happen today. It is uncertain when she might be able to return home. When that happens, she will need home health care on many levels. The hospital is helping to make those arrangements.

Bob has been staying with close friends, Dave and Teri Nielsen, during this time. The next few days will tell us much more about her prognosis. Please continue to keep them both in your prayers.