|
|
|
Liver Cancer Darien Jochen is an 11 year old girl initially diagnossed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, on Jannuary 27, 1997. She had surgery to remove the tumor and 3/4 of her liver, then underwent intense chemotherapy treatments until May 1998, all under the care of Dr. Thompson and Dr. Frankel at the Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. Due to sequestered blood counts, she had her spleen removed in November 1998. More details of her liver cancer can be found on the Old_Web_Page Bone Marrow Transplant On April 21, 1999, Darien was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, a disease of the bone marrow where fibrous scar tissue builds inside the marrow cavity. She was referred to the Texas Children's Cancer Center in Houston and met with Dr. Robert Krance, a bone marrow transplant specialist, on April 29, 1999. Our whole family was tested to see if any of us was a match for Darien. We found out on May 4 that Karis, Darien's 4 year old sister, was a perfect match. We met again on May 19 at the Texas Children's Hospital to go over more details about the transplant. Darien was admitted to Texas Children's Hospital Thursday June 10 and received her Bone Marrow Transplant on June 18, 1999. Her younger sister Karis was the donor. New cell growth began on the 15th day after her BMT. Darien was released from Texas Children's on July 12, 1999, 24 days after her BMT and confined to a hotel near the hospital. July 21, 1999, Darien was given permission to stay at her grandparents near Conroe. On September 3, 1999, 77 days after her BMT, Darien was given permission to go home. On September 26, 1999, 100 days after her BMT, Darien ate at her first restaurant since June 9, 1999. On November 1, 1999, 136 days after her BMT, Darien attended her first day of 5th grade. Kidney Failure On November 16, 1999, Darien's kidney's began showing signs that they were deteriorating. On April 25, 2000, Darien had surgery to install a catheter in her abdominal cavity in preparation for dialysis. Darien began Peritoneal Dialysis on May 12, 2000. Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment where the peritoneal membrane (lining around the inside of your intestinal wall) is used to filter and cleanse the impurities, waste products and extra fluid from your body. Peritoneal dialysis uses a fluid called dialysate (sugar water) to remove fluid and waste products from your abdominal cavity and place them in the dialysate. The dialysate fluid acts like a magnet that attracts waste and excess fluid from the body. Peritoneal dialysis must be done every night and generally takes from 8 to 10 hours to complete.
The "New Updates" section contains daily information about Darien while she was receiving her Bone Marrow Transplant at the Texas Children's Hospital during the summer of 1999. It will also continue to update her kidney problems.
|