The news on Susan Butcher is not good. Susan Butcher, four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and once the dominant athlete in her sport, has been re-admitted to the hospital. Her body is, apparently, rejecting the bone marrow transplant she received as treatment for her leukemia back in May:
The complication most feared struck less than a month after the May 16 transplant.
Butcher, 51, has graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), something that hits more than 50 percent of donor recipients. It happens when the donor’s marrow produces blood cells that attack the recipient’s cells, often in the skin or lungs. In severe cases it can be fatal. In Butcher’s case, the disease is attacking her digestive system.
Jan Abkowitz, Butcher’s doctor in Seattle, said transplant recipients rarely have uneventful recoveries. She called Butcher’s reaction particularly serious and unusual.
“It’s not trivial,” she said. “But she’s holding her own. She’s on medicines we hope will make her better. We’re sitting tight and using the medicines.”
Abkowitz said Butcher took a short walk in the hospital Tuesday. She’s being fed intravenously and battles nausea and pain daily.
“Make no mistake — this is not going well,” Jonrowe said.
That’s almost impossible to accept. This is Susan Butcher we’re talking about — a woman known for toughness, strength and willpower. When news of her illness became public several months ago, experts and statistics told us she faced considerable odds.
Yet Butcher herself gave us comfort. “Somebody has to beat the odds,” she said, “so why not me?”
If you’re inclined to, pray or send good thoughts—if not for Susan then for her family. Or, if not, reflect on the transience of things.
In his most recent post of any length Susan’s husband, David Monson, wrote:
Unlike the initial treatment for cancer, the chemo and the radiation, there is no certian pattern or map for where this will lead. Even the Drs. wait and watch to see where they are going. The days seem longer because of the uncertianty.
My previous posts:
Susan Butcher receives stem cell transplant
Susan Butcher has leukemia
For the latest updates on Susan’s condition from her husband go here. Enter the patient ID ‘butcher’ and the password ‘butcher1’.
Susan’s web site is here.
Personally, I’m waiting for the idiots at PETA to start tuning up. And you know it’s gonna happen.
No doubt.