My daughter

I believe my daughter could be the longest surviving CML patient.
She was diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 4.
Given 2 years to live, the drs didn’t really have any idea how to treat her.
She started on some medication and then interferon.
A search was done worldwide wide for a donor and no matches were found.
She continually defied all odds, lots of ups and downs and we were grateful for every year we had her.
She remained on interferon until she was 12 years old and was doing well.
A new drug called Gleevec was talked about and her drs asked if she could trial the medication as they were sure it was the right decision for her CML.
She developed psoriasis and it became very aggressive over the next four years. The drs decided it was the Gleevec that was aggravating her condition and decided to stop her having it.
This was a very stressful time as the doctors didn’t know what would happen as there was no other medication.
As time passed each blood test was stressful. She was 16 years old and they told her that she would never be able to have children due to her medications.
Now she is a 38 year old mum of 3 beautiful children.
No medication for 22 years.
Her chronic psoriasis never went away,
She suffered terribly until a wonderful doctor saw her in hospital and got her in a trial of a drug for psoriasis that is given intravenously. It worked and she still has it every 8 weeks to keep her skin clear.
She has other medical problems with her bones and veins.
She is a wonderful mum, loving and generous to everyone.
So very proud to call her my daughter.
Miracles do happen… she is one!

Kaylie Channon