JoeyLee

“Mommy, I need you, please come now!” The urgency in her voice sent a cold chill down my spine. As I drove the three hour distance from my house to the hospital, my mind wandered back to our conversation. “Oh, Mom, please come as quickly as you can, please hurry, something’s wrong.” She was scared, that much I could tell from the quiver in her voice. “They won’t let me go home. They're saying my blood cells are abnormal and the doctor has a call into an Oncologist.”

“I’m on my way dear. Please stay calm. I’m sure they’re just trying to rule out anything serious.” I tried to sound reassuring, but in my heart I knew this was not good. “Who’s there with you?”

“David’s here with the kids. Mom, I’m scared.” I could hear the fright she felt as she gulped back the tears.

“Oh baby, I’m on my way.” I raced around the house gathering belongings, tears spilling from my eyes, with one thought racing through my head; 'Please dear God, let my daughter be okay.'

JoeyLee had been at work when a sudden sharp, knife jabbing pain to the back sent her almost tumbling to the floor. She was pale and bent over in obvious pain. Her energy level dropped leaving her with a sudden and overwhelming fatigue. Had her boss not seen her, she felt sure she would have passed out in the middle of JC Penny's lingerie department. His quick thinking and a 911 call got her to the hospital and to the grim news we received on that fateful day.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia among adults. This type of cancer is rare under age 40. It is also more common in men than women. People with this type of cancer usually have abnormal cells in their bone marrow. The bone marrow, which helps fight infection, will stop working correctly if the cancer is left undiagnosed and untreated. Younger adults usually have a higher rate of survival after treatment than their older counterparts.

The date she was diagnosed will remain with me always. It came on April 7th, her brother's birthday. It is difficult to wish your son a happy birthday, while she faced an uncertain future. I'm sure somewhere in her mind she mused at the irony too.

Her doctors were cautiously optimistic. Her chromosome tests were good. The rate of survival for this type of cancer was positive. She entered the hospital on April 10th to begin the chemotherapy program designed as her treatment. The following day, Joey showed signs of difficult breathing. By Thursday, she was rushed into ICU because of what they thought was pneumonia. They placed her on a respirator to lessen the strain of breathing on the lungs and heart. Along with anti-biotic medication, they began chemotherapy. After five days of treatment, they were unsuccessful in being able to remove her from the respirator. She was kept heavily sedated while their attempts to remove the breathing tube were exhausted.

The bone marrow biopsy filled the Oncologist with hope, however her Pulmonary Specialist did not share his optimism. It became clear that, as a smoker, she had developed a lung disease that was preventing her from breathing on her own. Although, by now she was clear of cancer, her body began to shut down, and she slipped into a coma. Her blood rejected each dose of platelets given. Her immune system was expended.

I was at work on that fateful day, Thursday, April 27th. Her doctor called at around ten in the morning. “Come at once.” is all I heard. I knew the prognosis. I couldn't get to the hospital fast enough.

For three hours I sat by my daughter's side holding her hand. I wanted her to know I was there, that I loved her. Through my tears, I prayed to God to somehow perform a miracle and save her. At 4:30 PM, I saw the heart monitor line go flat. My thirty-three year old daughter was gone. I kissed her on the cheek. As I walked out of the room I realized I was there when she came into this world, and there when she left. Though now left with a broken heart, I somehow felt honored to have been her mother.