Since treatment in July 2019, I have still been transfusion-dependent, receiving both blood and platelets. I get so short of breath when my blood is low. I really hate this disease. Because I’m still transfusion-dependent, I go back and forth for labs, doctor’s appointments, and transfusions.
My name is Mychaela Lovelace. I had been a healthy five-year-old child until one day, when I came home, my mother noticed red dots and bruises on my body. Because she worked in the medical field, she was very concerned. She took me to the doctor, but my pediatrician wasn’t on in the office that day. The doctor I didn’t know said that I was just playing too hard and the dots and bruises were just a rash.
“Hey, Braeden, we need to go.”
Little did 12-year-old Braden understand that he was headed towards hospital admission.
Earlier that day, Braden nearly passed out on the basketball court. He was a happy, athletic child, who excelled at several sports. His mom, Becki, took him for blood work.
Later, Braeden’s parents heard from the doctor’s office: take him to the Emergency Department now. That’s when Braeden’s dad came to pick him up from his friend’s house, where he’d been playing normally.
I had an article published in 2017 by AAMDSIF and was asked to update everyone. I will briefly reiterate the first part of my journey and then move forward!
Before diagnosis, Jocelyn’s life was normal, predictable. She was thriving her senior year in college, studying Public Relations. In 2008, she was working, volunteering, attending classes---all the normal activities for a 20-year-old.
But one day that changed. Extreme fatigue set in, making it difficult to walk a single flight of stairs. At first, she dismissed the fatigue to her rigorous schedule.
Veronica learned that delaying treatment was not a good idea.
That delay nearly ended her life.
September 16 through December 20 will stand out in Ashley’s mind.
Forever.
These are the days she spent in the hospital with her feisty three-year-old, Alayna, for conditioning and bone marrow transplant.
The summer of 2019 was already big with a wedding to plan. The toddler and her baby brother were enjoying everything that small ones do, including riding dirt bikes with Daddy.