My daughter Jenna – A miracle

My daughter was diagnosed in June 1993 with CML, doctors told us that there wasn’t any known treatment for her and she probably has about 2 years before she would loose her battle with CML.It was decided to start her on hydroxyurea and then interferon.
Soon after starting these medications her blood counts were showing signs it was working.
She continued interferon for several years until the doctors decided that a new drug called Gleevec could benefit her and they got permission to give it to her.
Jenna continued taking Gleevec for around 4 years, during this time she developed psoriasis all over her body.
A decision was made to stop the Gleevec as they said it was aggravating her skin condition.
They told us that they had no idea what would happen after she stopped it, they didn’t know if her CML would come back aggressively or slowly.
A very hard time for us, not knowing what was going to happen.
Long story short now… she is now turning 38 this year, she is still in remission, has not had any medication since she was 16 years old, has had 3 children even though she was told she would never have children due to the medication she has had.
She has many health issues she deals with everyday, including having a transfusion every 8 weeks for her psoriasis ( otherwise her whole body is covered with it) . She has two types of arthritis that cause her a lot of pain.
We don’t know if the medications she took to save her life has caused them, but that is what it took for her to be in our lives, she is a wonderful mum, the most generous loving person I know and I am so proud of her.
I have read many stories about survivors of CML and I haven’t read one that someone has survived CML and isn’t on any medication and hasn’t been for 22 years…. Our miracle!

Kaylie Channon