Van's Symptoms and Diagnosis

For the last two weeks, Van has had headaches, shortness of breath when he climbs stairs, and loss of appetite. We went to the doctor on Monday, December 28, 2009 and he did an EKG and ordered fasting blood tests to done the next day. Wednesday morning the doctor called Van to go and get Wendy and meet him at his office because he thinks he figured out what was wrong with him. When we got there, two doctors were waiting to tell us that his white blood cell count was 196,000 instead of 1,100. They had the pathologist look at his blood and confirmed it was leukemia. They called the best oncologist they knew and had a team of doctors waiting at LDS Hospital for us to arrive. LDS Hospital 8th floor is dedicated to leukemia patients. They say this is the best place to be, and we have felt the same.

Van has a form of myelogenous leukemia. We don’t know for sure if it is chronic or acute since it shows both attributes. The leukemia has entered a “blast” phase producing white blood cells out of control. If they would have caught the chronic leukemia in the beginning stages, he could have taken medicine each day and been fine. He has been receiving medicines to stop the over producing of white blood cells as well as clean up the cells that our destroyed. The doctor today said he feels like he has responded well to the treatment to date and the white blood cells have not gotten out of control. As of yet we don’t know which treatments he will receive. His current treatment so far is oral. Within a day or two, we will know genetically what leukemia he has, which will better determine what therapy he will be receiving. They are looking for a particular marker “Philadelphia chromosome”. That information will help them determine which genetic subtype they are dealing with. His siblings have been encouraged to be tested for compatibility in a possibility of a bone marrow transplant. We don’t know if a bone marrow transplant will be the treatment or intravenous chemotherapy or both.

You would never know that Van was sick until after his first chemotherapy treatment. He now has a constant headache, is nauseous, and goes to the bathroom every 30 minutes (because of all the fluids they are pumping into him). When the medicines for these problems are given, he is able to sleep peacefully. As these massive amounts of white blood cells die, they will cause complications on their own. The doctors are telling us they will do everything to keep it under control so he doesn’t have to go to intensive care. We are trying to stay positive and have hope.

In 1991, Elder Maxwell quoted this verse: “The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:21), noting that this “diving purpose ought to keep us on spiritual alert as to life’s purposeful adversities, especially as we seek to become more saintly.”