Year One

Summer 2005 to Summer 2006 Summer 2005

Ray continued to build his pool business, while receiving two blood transfusions every other week. The hematologist kept hoping that this was a temporary condition that would resolve itself.


Fall

Unfortunately, by September, it became apparent that this was not going to go away on its own. Ray was then put on Prednisone in an attempt to stop the Aplasia. Instead of curing his PRCA, the Prednisone just unmasked his diabetes. At this point, we were beginning to fear that Ray would some day need a bone marrow transplant. After reading information on Stem Cells and the side affects of BMT's (infertility), we decided to have another baby and store the stem cells.



Winter


In December, the hematologist decided to try IVIG (Intravenous Gammaglobulin). Ray's bone marrow failed to respond to this treatment after 3 rounds and he was now going into iron overload due to the constant blood transfusions. They began to treat him with Desferal (iron chelation) intravenously for 1 hour after each transfusion.

Spring


In March, the doctors started Ray on Cyclosporin. Although Ray started showing a little response to the Cyclosporin, He was still needing regular blood transfusions.

Summer

Finally, in June, Ray was sent to Moffit Cancer Center to see Dr. Saba.